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Getting to sleep can be a struggle for many people, but now TikTok seems to have a bedtime hack that could send you off to the land of nod in just two minutes.
Typically used in the military, this speedy sleep technique was supposedly developed to help soldiers fall asleep faster at any time, wherever they were.
Justin Agustin (opens in new tab), a fitness expert who has amassed 1.7 million followers on Tik Tok, shared the sleep hack which has so far been watched over 3 million times. He explains that 96% of people who master this technique can fall asleep within two minutes of closing their eyes.
So how does it work?
Take several deep breaths as you consciously aim to relax every part of your body. Start with the forehead, then the eyes, cheeks, jaw, neck and shoulders. Try to lose the tension in your shoulders, hands and arms.
“Imagine this warm sensation running down from your head all the way down to your fingertips,” says Justin, before going on to release tension in your stomach and lower body.
For those of us with busy minds, the next step is key.
Justin says that now is the time to imagine one of two scenarios; lying in a canoe on a calm day in calm water or lying in a black velvet hammock in a pitch-black room.
Distracted? Repeat the words, “Don’t think, don’t think, don’t think” for 10 seconds.’
So is it worth trying? Dr Sarah Brewer, Medical Director at wellbeing brand Healthspan says that this is a standard body scan relaxation and "is actually very hard to do".
She also adds that, "telling yourself ‘don’t think’ is guaranteed to make you think!"
Whether you want to give this TikTok technique a go or not, a key rule for good sleep is to practice sleep hygiene every night.
This means winding down an hour or so before bed, by limiting technology and blue screens, enjoying a warm (caffeine-free!), drink and engaging yourself with something calming such as reading or meditating.
