This ‘military method’ could help you get to sleep in a matter of minutes if you are struggling, so why not give it a try if you are feeling restless?
You might have heard of this technique before, but it’s so simple and so many people have benefited from it that it bears repeating.
It promises to have you asleep within two minutes.
What is the military method, and why does it work?
As we all know, sometimes it can be hard to get to sleep.
You know the score - you’re absolutely zonked out but can’t quite drift off, you’ve had a really tough day and feel physically exhausted, but can’t take that final leap over to La-La-Land, or keep waking up in the night at weird times.
If you've tried other techniques - and there are plenty - this could be the technique for you.
It’s called the military sleep method, and it’s really quite simple.
Just follow these steps carefully, and you’ll be in the Land of Nod before you know it.
First, start breathing deeply.
Close your eyes, breathe freely and deeply, focusing on slow, deep breaths.
Then, relax your face, concentrate on feeling the relaxation of your face, starting at the forehead and then moving down through the head, cheeks, mouth, and jaw.
Keep breathing deeply and letting that tension float away as you go.
Don’t forget to relax those eyes and your tongue inside your mouth.
Next up, you need to drop your shoulders as low as you can.
Release the tension, keep your arms at your sides, and progressively relax downwards.
Do this arm by arm, really noticing yourself getting more relaxed as you go.
After you have done that, you need to relax your chest, all while breathing deeply, moving down through your stomach and into your legs.
Relax each leg in turn, doing the same process as everywhere else, this time going from your pelvis right down to the toes.
That’s the body sorted - now for the mind
After you are relaxed, you need to start thinking about something nice to clear your mind of stress - maybe you are lying in a canoe on a clear lake with the blue sky above you.
Perhaps you are in a comfy hammock in a dark room.
Try to visualize something peaceful - that’s the point.
If you are struggling and getting distracted - which is totally normal, by the way - you can just repeat the phrase ‘don’t think’ over in your head for 10 seconds and return to the visualization.
If you are still getting distracted, try to put your thoughts aside and return to your happy place.
If you keep at this technique for six weeks, you should be able to fall asleep within two minutes.
There you have it - a bit of mental and physical discipline could change the way you sleep forever.