Recently, almost every conversation I have - whether it’s with friends, colleagues, or even acquaintances - touches on the delicate subject of sleep. Or more accurately: sleeping issues. I’m not immune to that either. I’ve had my fair share of nights staring at the ceiling, wondering how to fall asleep. And I know I’m not alone. Studies show that nearly 1 in 3 adults regularly struggle with sleep, whether it’s falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling oh-so-very tired.

For me, the problem usually started the moment I got into bed. I’d turn off the light, close my eyes - and my brain would instantly light up. Tasks I hadn’t finished. Random worries. Creative ideas that just wouldn’t wait. It felt impossible to switch off 😬

Most nights, I like to read before bed, I truly enjoy that. But some evenings, I’m simply too tired to focus. And in those moments, like many of us, I reached for my phone. Just a quick scroll to distract my mind … which inevitably turned into a full hour of doomscrolling. Did it help me fall asleep? Hell no.

Honestly, I don’t think the problem is the screen itself: it’s what you do on it. The fast-paced content, the constant stimulation, the endless little dopamine hits … all of it keeps the brain alert and makes winding down even harder.

But I’ve found my own way - and, funny enough, I found it through my own app. These days, I’ve made coloring a part of my bedtime routine:

🌙 I turn on dark mode

🔕 I switch off notifications

🎨 I open Lake and color

I noticed the difference almost immediately. My breathing slowed, my thoughts got quieter, my eyes felt heavier. Sometimes I finish a piece, sometimes I don’t. Either way, it gently guides my mind into rest.

And I’m not the only one. As a cofounder of Lake, I’ve heard this first-hand from our community. People share how coloring helps them unwind, how it brings back a sense of calm that’s hard to find elsewhere in a world full of screen time and stimulation.

So if your mind is noisy at night, like mine often is, maybe try putting down the scroll and picking up some color instead. You might be surprised how peaceful it feels.