APAD: Counting sheep

Meaning:

   Counting sheep is a distraction technique used to help people get to sleep.

 

   The mental distraction of imagining a field of sheep and counting them is

   intended to distract insomniacs from fretting about being awake and relax

   into sleep.

 

Background:

   Insomnia has probably always been with us, likewise sheep. The counting sheep

   technique, like other distraction exercises, is effective for some people who

   find it difficult to get to sleep.

 

   We have evidence of this particular technique, of counting sheep as they are

   imagined in a field or jumping a fence, being used from at least 1854.

   That's from Seba Smith's Way down East; or Portraitures of Yankee life:

 

     "He shut his eyes with all his might, and tried to think of sheep jumping

     over a wall."

 

- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]

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I've never tried and don't know how much counting sheep speeds up the trip to

the land of Nod. The English might not think twice but I'd be wondering about

the verdant pasture, the breed of the animal, what they are raised for, their

diet and temperament, Jesus carrying a lamb, etc. So I doubt the effectiveness

of this method.