{"id":31337,"date":"2023-12-26T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-26T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=31337"},"modified":"2025-12-11T10:46:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:46:17","slug":"why-do-i-rub-my-feet-together-to-fall-asleep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/why-do-i-rub-my-feet-together-to-fall-asleep\/","title":{"rendered":"The Science Behind Cricketing: Why You Rub Your Feet Together in Bed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While there could be many reasons why you\u2019re not getting the amount of shuteye you need, just know that you\u2019re not alone. In fact, in our\u00a0r<\/a>ecent survey of 2,000 Americans<\/a>, we found that three in five people have trouble falling asleep, with anxiety being the most significant cause.\u00a0[1]<\/sup>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The survey mentioned that half of the study participants had dreams related to stress, and over 40% said next-day anxiety is the cause of their sleeplessness\u2014which suggests that stress and anxiety need to be controlled for sleep quality to be improved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most recently, a viral sleep trend on TikTok<\/a> promises to help you do just that. With over 79.6 billion<\/em> views on the app, \u201ccricket feet\u201d swears to help calm your nervous system, reduce stress, and make it just that<\/em> much easier to fall asleep. But what exactly is<\/em> it\u2014and how does it work? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Kristina Grabnickas<\/a>, a certified sleep coach and nurse practitioner who works at Lake Nona Wave Hotel<\/a> as their resident sleep expert, to find out all about this viral trend and whether you should be incorporating it into your nighttime routine.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is cricket feet? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are some things you may already be doing to relax your body before you fall asleep (such as avoiding blue light<\/a> from devices or having a warm cup of tea<\/a>), but there\u2019s another soothing habit that has people on TikTok asking, \u2018Where are my fellow crickets?\u2019\u201d says Grabnickas. \u201cCricket feet, or cricketing, is simply the habit of rubbing one foot against the other repeatedly, in an effort to soothe yourself to sleep.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cricket feet, or cricketing, is simply the habit of rubbing one foot against the other repeatedly, in an effort to soothe yourself to sleep.<\/p>\nKristina Grabnickas, resident sleep expert at Lake Nona Wave Hotel<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This behavior is named after the insect. The cricket does the same thing to make its signature chirping sound. So, cricket feet refers to the physical movement of rubbing one\u2019s feet together\u2014it\u2019s just for humans. And it turns out that a ton<\/em> of us are doing it, which explains why it\u2019s all over the internet right now.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do I rub my feet together\u2014or cricket\u2014in bed? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou may not realize it while you\u2019re doing it, but cricketing is a way that you can help calm your nervous system before bed,\u201d says Grabnickas. \u201cIt\u2019s a type of motor function, also known as a repetitive, rhythmic movement with a predictable pattern.\u201d [2]<\/sup> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Grabnickas, most people do it subconsciously. In the psych world, the behavior is called stimming<\/a>. Most children do some sort of repetitive movement, such as twirling their hair, humming, or (you guessed it) rubbing their feet together, to help calm themselves. This behavior often extends to adulthood as well. [2]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also important to note that research has found a link between stimming and developmental disorders like autism and ADHD, suggesting that those with these conditions could use stimming to soothe or communicate emotions. [3]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCricketing is a type of stimming, but if you cricket, that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you have ADHD<\/a> or any other kind of developmental disorder,\u201d explains Grabnickas. \u201cMost people use it as a soothing technique before bed\u2014but if you do it throughout the day to better focus on the task you have at hand, it may be a sign of something else.\u201d [2]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you simply cricket because you find it helps calm you down before bed, that\u2019s not a sign to be worried, she adds. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can rubbing your feet together in bed help you fall asleep? <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While there\u2019s no direct research linking cricket feet to better sleep, there could be many reasons why the movement is so soothing to people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For one, there are several acupressure points on your feet, and rubbing them together may promote relaxation by targeting those points.[4] Research has suggested that\u2014similar to a gentle foot massage\u2014cricketing can be a form of reflexology<\/a> that will help you go to sleep faster. [4]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the repetitive motion of cricketing could help you simply be happier. Studies have shown that these kinds of repeated movements release oxytocin in the body. [5]<\/sup> Oxytocin is a hormone associated with decreased stress and increased joy.[6]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is because cricketing (and similar repeated movements) can help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system<\/a>, which is known for controlling the body\u2019s relax response,\u201d says Grabnickas. [7]<\/sup> That means cricketing could potentially help calm you down when you need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, it\u2019s worth noting that cricketing may not be effective on everyone and that most do it as a form of subconscious behavior. So, if you don\u2019t feel the need to cricket, don\u2019t worry about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you find your to-do list often keeps you awake at night, then you may want to give the motion a try, says Grabnickas. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are there any downsides to cricketing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOverall, there are no downsides associated with cricketing yourself to sleep,\u201d says Grabnickas. \u201cHowever, some people may find the movement bothersome (especially partners of those who cricket), while others may not be able to control the urge to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In that case, you may have something else going on, such as restless leg syndrome<\/a>, which is also often associated with ADHD, explains Grabnickas. [8]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, if you\u2019ve just started cricketing, then it\u2019s important to look at the reason behind why you do so. If it\u2019s to help you sleep after a particularly stressful day, then there\u2019s nothing to worry about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you\u2019re doing it compulsively or can\u2019t fall asleep without doing so, then there may be other issues going on. It\u2019s important to discuss this with a doctor or therapist. They may be able to pinpoint an underlying condition or give you better coping mechanisms for your stress.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FAQs <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why do people rub their feet together before falling asleep? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most people rub their feet together before bed because they find it soothing, which may make it easier for them to fall asleep. The repeated motion of cricketing can help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and bring about a relaxed feeling in the body.[7] Also, activating the nerve endings on the feet while cricketing could act as a form of reflexology. [4]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is rubbing your feet together a sign of ADHD? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rubbing your feet together, or cricketing, can be a stimming behavior, which research has linked to ADHD. [3, 9]<\/sup> However, simply partaking in cricketing behavior isn\u2019t necessarily a sign of ADHD unless it\u2019s also accompanied by other symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattention. Those with ADHD who partake in cricketing also are more likely to do it throughout the day as an effort to focus as opposed to simply choosing it as a self-soothing technique before bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What else can help calm you before bed? Check out our list of the best nighttime activities to help you relax<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Saatva. Survey Says This Is What Keeps Americans Up at Night. https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/up-all-night-survey\/<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Cleveland Clinic. What Is Stimming? https:\/\/health.clevelandclinic.org\/what-is-stimming<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Sokolova, E., Oerlemans, A. M., Rommelse, N. N., Groot, P., Hartman, C. A., Glennon, J. C., Claassen, T., Heskes, T., & Buitelaar, J. K. (2017). A Causal and Mediation Analysis of the Comorbidity Between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 47(6), 1595\u20131604. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10803-017-3083-7<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Cai, D. C., Chen, C. Y., & Lo, T. Y. (2022). Foot Reflexology: Recent Research Trends and Prospects. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 11(1), 9. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/healthcare11010009<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Uvn\u00e4s-Moberg, K., Handlin, L., & Petersson, M. (2015). Self-soothing behaviors with particular reference to oxytocin release induced by non-noxious sensory stimulation. Frontiers in psychology, 5, 1529. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2014.01529<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Harvard Health. Oxytocin: The love hormone. https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/mind-and-mood\/oxytocin-the-love-hormone<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Cleveland Clinic. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PSNS). https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/body\/23266-parasympathetic-nervous-system-psns<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Migueis, D. P., Lopes, M. C., Casella, E., Soares, P. V., Soster, L., & Spruyt, K. (2023). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and restless leg syndrome across the lifespan: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sleep medicine reviews, 69, 101770. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.smrv.2023.101770<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Attention Deficit Disorder Association. ADHD Stimming: Why It Happens And How To Cope. https:\/\/add.org\/stimming-adhd\/<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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