There’s Science Behind Getting To Sleep Faster

According to Mental Health UK, almost 1 in 5 people in the UK aren’t getting enough sleep.

This isn’t surprising, right? How many nights have you found yourself counting down how many hours sleep you’ll get if you drop off right… Now? It’s no fun but you’re not alone.

Healthcare providers BUPA UK recommend that adults under the age of 64 should get around 7-9 hours sleep per night but for many of us, this just isn’t our reality and getting to sleep in the first place is part of the problem.

However, one sleep method may actually get us to drop off finally…

So, for this sleep method, you don’t need any gadgets or gimmicks. It’s just your body, your bed, your mind working together to make for a peaceful sleep that comes to you easily and restfully.

The method involves a combination of mind-body relaxation techniques, including deep breathing, visualisation, body-scanning and muscle relaxation. That’s genuinely all it is!

The University of Minnesota Medical School explains: “For the military sleep method, you lie on your back, being still, and intentionally relax each muscle group, one at a time, while focusing on slow, calming breaths.

“Move from the top of your body to the bottom when relaxing your muscles, picturing yourself sinking into your bed. Keep in mind what you do before you go to bed also matters. You should unwind, chill out, and cue your mind and body that it is time to sleep by reducing stimulants and distractions ”

Honestly this sounds absolutely lovely.

Victoria Bangieva, PhD, is a clinical health psychologist trained in treating sleep disorders explains: “Although I don’t know of any study that has looked at the effectiveness or benefits of this method, the science behind it is based on proven relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualisation,

“[These] strategies help activate the body’s relaxation response, which helps reduce stress and tension, and generally promotes a calm and relaxed state of being.”

Tony McLaren, the National Coordinator for the Scottish mental health service Breathing Space advises: “Avoid checking your phone in bed while trying to go to sleep. You could set yourself a specific time each night to stop looking at your phone. Think about what you eat and when. For example, eating a spicy meal or drinking alcohol just before bed will make it harder to fall asleep.

“It can be helpful to write things down before going to bed. It could be a list of things you have to do tomorrow to help get them off your mind.”

Of course, if self-help doesn’t improve your sleep, speak to your GP for treatment and advice.