There’s a good chance you’ve done it—absentmindedly rubbed your feet together under the covers as you drift off to sleep. It’s a small, soothing gesture, something between a subconscious comfort ritual and a bedtime quirk. But what if we told you this gentle, rhythmic motion has a name? Enter cricketing.
Yes, cricketing. Named for the way it mimics the soft rasping sound of crickets rubbing their legs together, the term refers to the habitual movement of rubbing one’s feet—usually the soles or tops—together while lying in bed. It’s been quietly making the rounds on TikTok, Reddit, and in late-night text threads, as people finally find out there’s a word for their nightly ritual.
What is cricketing, exactly?
Cricketing isn’t a medical term (yet), but psychologists and sleep experts are well aware of the behavior. It typically involves gently brushing or rubbing the feet back and forth against one another, sometimes unconsciously. Some do it rhythmically, some sporadically. For many, it’s a nightly ritual they’ve had since childhood.
Dr. Shelby Harris, a behavioral sleep specialist, describes it as a type of “self-soothing motion,” akin to rocking or hugging a pillow. “Cricketing activates the parasympathetic nervous system,” she says. “It can help the brain downshift into a state of calm.”
Why we do it
Like tucking your feet under the cool side of the sheets or wrapping your arm around a pillow, cricketing can feel instinctual. For some, it helps release nervous energy or mild restlessness. For others, it’s about sensory regulation—the same reason some people love weighted blankets or silk pillowcases.
There’s even a theory that cricketing is connected to a deeper psychological loop: a remnant of early comfort-seeking behavior developed in infancy. Just as a baby might rock or hum to self-soothe, the adult version might look like softly cricketing under the covers.
Is it a problem?
Not at all—unless it’s tied to Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), which can include uncomfortable leg sensations and an uncontrollable urge to move. But in most cases, cricketing is harmless. In fact, for many, it’s a sign that their body is easing into sleep.
Partners of cricketers might have mixed feelings. Some find the sound and movement endearing. Others? Less so. (Cue the passive-aggressive nudge mid-slumber.)
TikTok therapy and the rise of name-checking our quirks
The viral nature of the term is part of a larger online trend: people assigning names to hyper-specific experiences, creating micro-communities of shared quirks. Like “bed rotting,” “limbic friction,” or the sensation of “phantom phone vibration,” cricketing has struck a chord for being oddly universal yet rarely discussed.
In comment sections across social media, users are expressing relief: “Wait, I thought I was the only one who did this!” or “I’ve been cricketing my whole life and never knew it had a name.” There’s something soothing—not unlike the habit itself—about discovering language for the things we thought were ours alone.
The bottom line
Cricketing isn’t a syndrome, a secret code, or a cause for concern. It’s just another reminder of how beautifully strange, sensitive, and sensory our bodies are. It’s comforting, harmless, and strangely communal.
So the next time you find yourself rubbing your feet together before sleep, don’t overthink it. You’re not weird—you’re just cricketing. And now, you have the vocabulary for it.
