To some of us, those who are somehow able to sleep without hassle and within seconds of trying on buses, park benches, boats, and anywhere they may please will always harbour a veil of mystery about them.
Because for those of us to whom sleep is a near-impossibility and only achieved in the dead of night in our own beds roughly four - five hours after closing our eyes, the method to falling asleep quickly will always be a shrewd enigma.
Until now (allegedly) because there’s a new ‘military secret’ that promises to help anyone fall asleep within two minutes.
The trick is apparently used by the US Army, so if it works for soldiers who are trying to sleep in circumstances of actual war, then surely it will help us in our moderately quiet house-shares in south London?
So let’s find out more about it.
The ‘military secret’ to falling asleep quickly
The method is as follows:
Step 1) Relax all the muscles in your face (including tongue, jaw, and eye muscles)
Step 2) Drop your shoulders as far down as they will go, then follow with your upper and lower arm (one side at a time)
Step 3) Breathe out and relax your chest. Then relax your legs, starting from the thighs and working down.
Step 4) After your body is completely relaxed, spent 10 seconds clearing your mind.
And this is where it gets weird.
After clearing your mind, think of one of the following three images:
Image 1) You’re lying in a canoe on a calm lake with nothing but a clear blue sky above you
Image 2) You’re lying in a black velvet hammock in a pitch-black room
Image 3) You say “don’t think, don’t think, don’t think” to yourself over and over for 10 seconds.
(NB: we wouldn’t recommend the third one if you’re sharing your bed with a new partner, just FYI…)
This trick is said to work for 96% of people after six weeks of practice, which sounds pretty amazing if you ask us. So, if you'll excuse us, we're off for an office nap.
We'd recommend coupling this method with our selection of the best beauty products to use to ensure a good night's sleep.
And if none of this works, here's our advice on how to fake 8 hours of sleep when you've only had three. You're welcome.
And in case you're wondering, here's why sleeping gets harder when you get older.