Ever tried to fall asleep – but found yourself wide-awake while the rest of the world zooms to Zzz-land? Fear not, because you are not alone. We went through a social media thread where people anonymously shared their tried-and-true hacks for falling asleep faster than you can say ‘catnap’. From mental tricks to pills and peculiar positions, here is a one-stop rundown of the most trusted ways of turning off.
Featured Image Credit: IgorVetushko /Depositphotos.com.
#1 Vibrating Bed Magic
The prospect of a vibrating bed might seem like something out of a stagey comedy – but it helps some people. While there are no specific studies on vibrating beds to make you sleep, there is some research around gentle vibrations that might make you relax. And here’s the trick I think – if your mind is distracted, it can’t focus on all the reasons you’re stressed out. It can focus on nothing at all, shimmying right along.
#2 Fantastical Sleep Stories
One user suggests creating a fantasy story in your head with your eyes closed – then keep adding details till you fall asleep. Writing a creative narrative in bed might lead to a kind of cognitive distraction that serves to relax us — a little like a bedtime story for ourselves. You are the author and the audience, and dreamland arrives in between chapters.
#3 The Power of Pure Exhaustion
Ah, the bliss of being completely exhausted! This lazy trick seemingly involves nothing at all, yet it’s backed by science too. Physical exertion leads to faster sleep onset — because sleep is when the body aims to undo the damage you’ve wrought as your muscles ache for repair. It’s like pressing snooze for a brain that’s otherwise not willing to turn off.
#4 Watching Mental Imagery Unfold
Some users say they just close their eyes and observe whatever images pop into the head first, and then just watch how they begin to shift and change.
Watching the mind’s eye conjure up a show might sound like a passive activity, but it’s a relaxation technique. It acts like a form of mindfulness or meditation – focusing you on an internal reel and not on external noises.
#5 YouTube Bedtime Playlist
“Listen to YouTube. Out in under 10 mins every time.”
One could argue that YouTube is hardly conducive to sleep. Listeners often have to sift through a mass of wrong videos to find one right one. But this is where ASMR or having a relaxing playlist already created helps.
A large segment of users mentioned relaxing music or ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) videos. ASMR occurs when certain stimuli, such as whispering or tapping, induces feelings of well-being and relaxation.
#6 Magnesium Miracle
Some users take magnesium supplements and reported better sleep since they started taking the supplements.
Since it helps the body regulate neurotransmitters, magnesium can support rest and sleep. Magnesium is like a pat on the back as a person falls asleep. Though not everyone responds favorably to supplements, studies suggest that magnesium might be helpful for improving sleep quality.
#7 Rise and Shine Early
The early bird gets the… Zzz’s? Waking up early might seem disconnected from sleep, but it is linked. Specifically, it has to do with the body’s built-in 24-hour circadian rhythm. It is often suggested that aligning to these rhythms with early morning wake up times helps to lock the body into natural rhythms of sleep at night.
#8 Punctual Bedtime Routine
Consistency really is the name of the game. Setting a consistent bedtime schedule can feel boring, but it’s one of the most dependable tools we have for training our body to know that it’s time to sleep. Bedtime becomes something the body starts to look forward to as a kind of nightly date with its own slumber.