Former England football star Jill Scott has opened up about her nightly battle with insomnia, sharing the unconventional method she uses to drift off to sleep when rest seems impossible.
The Lionesses legend, who retired from professional football after England's Euro 2022 victory, revealed that counting backwards from 100 has become her secret weapon against sleepless nights.
The Mental Game After Football
Since hanging up her boots, Scott has discovered that the mental challenges of professional sport don't disappear with retirement. "When I was playing football, I'd be so physically tired from training that I'd just collapse into bed," the 36-year-old explained.
"Now I'm not training as much, my mind is still very active. I'm doing different things like Dancing on Ice and my podcast, but the physical exhaustion isn't there in the same way."
The Counting Technique That Works
Scott's go-to solution involves a simple but effective cognitive exercise. "I count backwards from 100," she shared. "It sounds really simple but it works for me because it gives my brain something to focus on."
The method helps quiet the racing thoughts that often keep people awake. "If I'm just lying there, my mind will be going through everything I've got to do the next day or things I should have done differently."
Why This Approach Succeeds
Sleep experts suggest that techniques like Scott's work because they engage the brain just enough to prevent it from wandering into anxious thoughts, but not so much that they keep you alert.
Scott emphasized the importance of quality sleep for both physical and mental wellbeing, noting that her athletic background made her appreciate recovery time even more.
Her advice comes as part of a wider conversation about mental health in sports and beyond, showing that even elite athletes face common struggles like insomnia.
