An increasing number of people are experiencing difficulty in nodding off, leading to a quest for the elusive good night’s rest that is essential for health. While an occasional sleepless night might leave you feeling tired, it’s generally harmless short-term.
However, persistent lack of sleep can have a significant impact on your day-to-day activities. Adults typically need between seven to nine hours of sleep to function at their best, though this can vary based on health and personal circumstances. If you’re often watching the clock as dawn approaches, it may be time to explore solutions.
A sleep expert has suggested a ‘visual’ technique that could help you drift off quicker than the traditional method of counting sheep. Rex Isap, a sleep expert from Happy Beds, recommends the ‘house tour sleep hack,’ which has become a sensation on TikTok with over 1.8 million views.
The social media user @emilymeditates shared this “strange and weird” trick, which she claims has worked for her and others she has told about it. In her video, she advises taking deep, calming breaths before picturing a familiar house that isn’t your own.
Emily has divulged a novel sleep technique that involves picturing her grandmother’s abode. The method requires a meticulous mental walkthrough of the house, paying close attention to every small detail, such as the act of opening and closing each door, and noting the furniture and arrangement.
Emily asserts she’s never managed to imagine reaching the second floor before falling asleep. A sleep specialist weighed in on the tactic, stating: “It combines mindfulness, relaxation, and cognitive distraction, which is a recipe for sleep success and is actually a more effective alternative to traditional sleep-inducing methods like counting sheep.”
He elaborated: “Using a familiar house, such as a grandparent’s home or a childhood house, can be more effective because of that element of personal connection. With counting sheep, the concept is so abstract and repetitive that it doesn’t engage the brain in the same calming way as a familiar home layout would.”
He also mentioned: “By visualising a place you know intimately, the mind is almost instantly drawn away from daily stresses and anxieties, and into a space that feels safe and comforting. It’s important to choose a home that only has positive and heartwarming memories, otherwise this technique could have the opposite effect. This sense of safety and familiarity lowers the cognitive load and helps the brain settle into a state of relaxation, which is essential for falling asleep.”
He recommends focusing on the small details to keep your mind active, and moving between rooms to foster a feeling of advancement. Yet, he recognises that some may dismiss this as “simply a complex distraction technique” which might not work for all.
“However, I would counter argue that the combination of emotional comfort and visualisation makes this hack more practical than most out-dated traditional methods advised,” he elaborated further.