6 Weird Tips on Falling Asleep That Actually Work

It’s 3 AM. You’ve got a huge presentation at work tomorrow. You’ve been checking the clock on the hour every hour since 10, and still, sleep eludes you.

Maybe it’s 2 PM on a Thursday. You’re at work, trying to focus, but your eyelids are heavy. You’re pretty sure the collective 10 hours of sleep you actually got this week are to blame.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. 30-35% of adults are plagued by mild insomnia symptoms. And as much as 10% of adults experience it regularly, for months at a time.

You probably feel like you’ve tried everything, but ask yourself: have I truly tried everything? Check out these weird tips on falling asleep for less common solutions that may just turn those lights out yet!

Tops Tips on Falling Asleep

How many times have you read tips on falling asleep that included counting sheep, emptying your mind, etc.? If those really worked for you, you wouldn’t be here! Some of the more effective solutions are a little less common.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Progressive muscle relaxation is a relaxation technique designed to reduce stress. Although it won’t be able to signal your brain that it’s time to sleep, it’ll reduce central nervous system activity that’s keeping you awake.

If you’re a chronic clock-checker, this one’s for you.

Essentially, you’ll tense then relax each muscle in your body, working your way up from your toes.

Lie flat on your back, and start by tensing your feet up for 5 seconds. Relax for 30 seconds, and then move onto your calves. Work your way up your entire body.

By the end of this exercise, you’ll have released tension that you didn’t even know you were feeling! It also has a meditative effect, which will reduce stress levels.

4-7-8 Breathing

The 4-7-8 breathing method was inspired by the practice of yoga. It’s super easy and can tranquilize your nervous system in as little as one minute. Sounds too good to be true, right?

It’s not. Breathing technique is heavily linked to stress management, which is essential for trying to doze off early.

Here’s how to practice 4-7-8 breathing:

• Keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth, exhale strongly, creating a loud gust of breath.
• Next, inhale softly through your nasal passage for four seconds.
• Hold your breath for seven seconds.
• Repeat the strong breath through your mouth for a total count of eight seconds.
• Repeat three more times.

It’s as simple as that. This breathing technique actually allows you to take in more oxygen than regular breaths allow, which helps to calm your nervous system!

Adjust the Temperature

You know how when you sleep with a big comforter and you always want to sneak one leg out the side to feel some relief from the warmth?

That’s because your body actually wants to be cooler. Even if a warmer temperature feels more comfortable for you, studies show that a 60-68 degree room is the optimal temperature range for falling asleep.

You can also take a hot bath 1-2 hours before bedtime to simulate this effect. While you’re in the bath, your body temperature will increase past its normal temperature. Once you get out, it’ll drop back down.

Paired with the melatonin your brain is already releasing according to your circadian rhythm, this stark body temperature drop off will signal to your body that its time to sleep.

Ignore the Clock

We’ve all been there: when you can’t sleep, you check the clock constantly. It feels like you spend the whole night counting backward from the time you have to wake up, watching hours wile away before your eyes.

This has a profoundly strong effect on your central nervous system. It amps your stress levels up big time, making it impossible to fall asleep.

Although it might be slightly annoying not to have your alarm near your bed, consider moving your clock to a different part of the room. Position it so that you can’t see the time.

This’ll help you resist checking the clock constantly. You’re only hurting yourself when you do this!

Bonus: if you’re a chronic snoozer in the morning, having your alarm across the room will require you to get out of bed to hit snooze. The battle of getting up will already be won! It’s likely you won’t even need to crawl back into bed afterward.

Throw on a Pair of Socks

It might seem counterintuitive to dropping your body temperature down, but studies show that wearing socks at night can actually help you fall asleep faster.

Same goes for your hands. It couldn’t hurt to throw a pair of mittens on, weird as it sounds.

Bundling up your extremities actually dilates your blood vessels, which will increase heat loss at the polar ends of your arms and legs. The rest of your body will react by sending blood down there to help warm them up. This supports the regulation of the ideal internal body temperature for falling asleep.

When you’re all cozied up in socks and a cold room, all you’ll need is a glass of warm milk to put you to sleep!

Change Your Sleeping Position

Did you know that your sleeping position may be preventing you from falling asleep? Just because it’s comfortable for you doesn’t mean it’s conducive for falling asleep quickly.

For instance, sleeping on your stomach is pretty much the worst position for sleep. It can lead to lower back pain, and keeping your head turned in one direction can strain your neck.

Your body has to deal with the effects of the position it’s placed in all night, so give it some help by making it easier. Sleeping on your side is noted as one of the best positions for sleep.

Sleeping on your back is great for your spine, but can lead to sleep apnea and snoring. If you’re a back sleeper who struggles with keeping your partner up at night due to your loud snores, consider investing in one of these best snoring devices for some relief.

Say Goodbye to Sleepless Nights

Now that you’ve read up on some of the weirdest tips on falling asleep that actually work, hopefully, you can kiss those sleepness nights goodbye in a hurry.

Want to read up on some other weird facts, news, and life hacks that’ll widen your eyes and furrow your brow? Check out our other weird news articles!

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