If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, tossing and turning without any success, a simple trick might just help you catch some rest.
A technique used by the military claims to help you nod off in less than two minutes and is effective for about 90 per cent of those who give it a go.
Fitness expert Justin Agustin explains that this method was devised by the US Army to aid fighter pilots in falling asleep amidst noisy and stressful circumstances.
In a video shared on social media, he stated: “This technique was developed in the military to allow soldiers to fall asleep anytime, any place, even on the battlefield when the environment is extremely uncomfortable and there’s a lot of noise happening. He further explained that the method involves deep breathing and visualisations in an attempt to to quickly “
He further elaborated that the technique involves deep breathing and visualisations in an effort to swiftly “shut the body down” into sleep.
How do you do the military sleep method?
Start by lying in any comfortable position on your bed. Then begin to relax every muscle in your body, starting with your forehead.
“Relax your eyes, your cheeks, your jaw and focus on your breathing,” Justin advised. “Now go down to your neck and shoulders. Make sure your shoulders are not tensed up. Drop them as low as you can and keep your arms loose by your side, including your hands and fingers.”, reports Surrey Live.
The next step is to envision a warm sensation moving from the top of your head to the tip of your fingers.
“Now, take a deep breath and slowly exhale, relaxing your chest, your stomach down to your thighs, knees, legs and feet. Again, imagine the warm sensation going all the way down to your toes,” he advised.
Now it’s time for the visualisations – and there are two you can choose from.
According to Justin, you can visualise yourself lying in a canoe on a calm lake with nothing but clear blue sky above you. Alternatively, you can visualise lying in a black velvet hammock in a pitch-black room.
If at any point your mind starts getting distracted, Justin recommended repeating these words for 10 seconds: “Don’t think. Don’t think. Don’t think.”
He assured that if you practice this technique every night for six weeks, you should be able to fall asleep within two minutes of going to bed.