[ph0rque]

>He concluded that your thoughts become more and more random and flooded as you get closer to actual sleep, until your brain gets overwhelmed and passes out.

At one point when I had trouble falling asleep in less than 1/2 an hour, I used the reverse to fall asleep quicker: I'd guide myself into thinking outlandish things, then my brain would naturally progress in this fashion until I fell asleep.

[Shamiq]

This has worked for me in the past. Though I can never repeat it reliably. Given enough stress for the following day, my thoughts will gravitate back to what needs to get done.