If you ever have trouble dropping off to sleep at night and, let’s face it, who doesn’t? - then you may be interested in the ‘military’ sleep method that's said to send you off to the land of nod within a couple of minutes.
Yep, while it may sound too good to be true, fitness coach Justin Agustin claims that the method, which works within just two minutes, is effective for a whopping 96 percent of people. Worth a shot, eh?
Sharing the tip on TikTok, Agustin branded it the ‘technique to fall asleep in two minutes’, but did warn that most folks will need to practice for around six months to see the full results. But, I guess, if you’re struggling to sleep anyway you’ve got nothing to lose, right?
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So, what is it? Well, according to the experts the technique was developed by the US Army, apparently 'mainly for fighter pilots who need 100 percent of their reflexes' and for those in active combat who need to be able to fall asleep in noisy and stressful situations - perhaps even on the battlefield in order to recharge and refresh.
It’s thought to have first been shared with civilians in the 1981 book Relax and Win: Championship Performance, written by American track and field coach Lloyd Bud Winter.
Winter hoped that the method would help him recover faster from injuries and improve his overall performance.
And if you fancy giving it a go yourself, it’s pretty easy.
First up, you need to get yourself into a comfortable position, once that’s done turn your thoughts to your breathing and then begin to slowly relax your entire body to 'shut it down'. Start off with your scalp, and then work down towards your forehead and facial features.
Make sure your whole body is relaxed: arms are loose and to your sides and imagine a warmth spreading from your head to your fingertips.
Then you move to your chest and take a deep breath to help it relax, and then continue to the stomach, thigh, legs and feet.
The warm sensation needs to be imagined going from your heart down to your toes.
But the method doesn’t stop there, while ensuring your body feels nice and relaxed, you also need to clear your mind of any stressors - you can do this by picturing a soothing scenario such as lying in a canoe on a clear, calm lake, or tucked away inside a hammock in a dark room.
If your mind does start to wander, repeat: “Don’t think” to yourself for ten seconds.
I don’t know about you, but I feel quite tired already.
Topics: Sleep
Claire Reid