You’re tired after a long day, so you finally get to bed, lay your head on the pillows, and then…you’re tossing and turning for the next hour trying to get your brain to shut off so you can get to sleep.
Does this sound familiar? Even when we’re really tired, it can be so hard to switch off into rest mode at night and relax enough to actually drift off to sleep. Between our busy lifestyles, watching TV in the evening, and scrolling through our phones before bed, there is a lot of stimulus in our lives that keeps us wired and makes falling asleep at night a serious challenge.
So, we were intrigued to say the least when we saw a trending TikTok going around showing a technique that promises to help you fall asleep in two minutes flat. Sign us up!
The TikTok, created by fitness influencer Justin Agustin (which boasts almost 12 million views!), shares what he says is a military technique designed to help fighter pilots quickly fall asleep while at war. He says it was created because fighter pilots need to be able to fall asleep quickly in difficult sleeping situations so they can be alert and able to fly well the next day.
The technique involves a combination of body scanning, muscle relaxation, and guided meditation, all designed to help relax the body and mind.
Let’s go step by step through his technique:
1. Relax the muscles in your forehead
2. Relax your eyes, cheeks, and jaw, as you focus on your breathing.
3. Relax your shoulders, dropping them down as far as they can go.
4. Keep your arms, hands, and fingers loose at your side.
5. Imagine a warm sensation flowing from the top of your head to your fingertips.
6. Take a deep breath and slowly exhale, relaxing your chest, stomach, knees, legs, and feet.
7. Imagine the warm sensation flowing from your heart down to your toes.
Now that your body and muscles relaxed, it’s time to relax your mind as well.
1. Imagine you’re lying in a canoe on a calm lake with only a clear blue sky above your, OR
2. Imagine you’re lying in a black velvet hammock in a pitch-black room (OR our note: anywhere that makes you feel at peace and relaxed)
3. If you feel your mind drifting at any point in the process, repeat to yourself 10 times “Don’t Think.”
Justin finishes by saying you’re supposed to practice this for six weeks to master it and that 96% of people who master the technique are able to fall asleep in two minutes.
You can find more wellness tips from Justin here.
Even if this technique doesn’t fully deliver on its promise, it’s still a great practice to try before bed! So often we go to bed mulling over our stressors from the day and our to-do list for tomorrow, so having something to help relax our bodies and shut off our mind is a great tool to have on hand to help alleviate stress and anxiety.
Our tip for the best night’s sleep? The perfect bedding. Shop our collection or organic, cozy, breathable bedding to find your new sleep essentials.