7 Tips on How to Fall Asleep Faster (less than 10 seconds)






(1) The military method

The popular military method, which was first reported by Sharon Ackerman, comes from a book titled “Relax and Win: Championship Performance.”

According to Ackerman, the U.S. Navy Pre-Flight School created a routine to help pilots fall asleep in 2 minutes or less. It took pilots about six weeks of practice, but it worked — even after drinking coffee and with gunfire noises in the background.

This practice is said to even work for people who need to sleep sitting up!

The military method

  3. Exhale, relaxing your chest.
  4. Relax your legs, thighs, and calves.
  6. If this doesn’t work, try saying the words “don’t think” over and over for 10 seconds.
  7. Within 10 seconds, you should fall asleep!

If this doesn’t work for you, you may need to work on the foundations of the military method: breathing and muscle relaxation, which have some scientific evidence that they work.

(2) 4-7-8 breathing method

Mixing together the powers of meditation and visualization, this breathing method becomes more effective with practice.

To prepare, place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth, behind your two front teeth. Keep your tongue there the whole time and purse your lips if you need to.

How to do one cycle of 4-7-8 breathing:

  3. Then hold your breath for 7 seconds.

(3) Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)

Progressive muscle relaxation, also known as deep muscle relaxation, helps you unwind.

The premise is to tense — but not strain — your muscles and relax to release the tension. This movement promotes tranquility throughout your body. It’s a trick recommended to help with insomnia.

Before you start, try practicing the 4-7-8 method while imagining the tension leaving your body as you exhale.

(4) Relaxation script

  1. Raise your eyebrows as high as possible for 5 seconds. This will tighten your forehead muscles.
  2. Relax your muscles immediately and feel the tension drop. Wait 10 seconds.
  3. Smile widely to create tension in your cheeks. Hold for 5 seconds. Relax.
  4. Pause 10 seconds.
  5. Squint with your eyes shut. Hold 5 seconds. Relax.
  6. Pause 10 seconds.
  7. Tilt your head slightly back so you’re comfortably looking at the ceiling. Hold 5 seconds. Relax as your neck sinks back into the pillow.
  8. Pause 10 seconds.
  9. Keep moving down the rest of the body, from your triceps to chest, thighs to feet.
  10. Let yourself fall asleep, even if you don’t finish tensing and relaxing the rest of your body.

As you do this, focus on how relaxed and heavy your body feels when it’s relaxed and in a comfortable state.

If the previous methods still didn’t work, there might be an underlying blockage you need to get out. Try these next techniques!

(5) Tell yourself to stay awake

Also called paradoxical intention, telling yourself to stay awake may be a good way to fall asleep faster.

For people — especially those with insomnia — trying to sleep can increase performance anxiety.

Research has found people who practiced paradoxical intention fell asleep faster than those who didn’t. If you often find yourself stressed out about trying to sleep, this method may be more effective than traditional, intentional breathing practices.

(6) Visualize a calm place

If counting activates your mind too much, try engaging your imagination.

Some say that visualizing something can make it real, and it’s possible this works with sleep, too.

In a 2002 study from the University of Oxford, researchers found that people who engaged in “imagery distraction” fell asleep faster than those who had general distraction or no instructions.

(7) Image distraction

  • Instead of counting sheep, try to imagine a serene setting and all the feelings that go with it. For example, you can imagine a waterfall, the sounds of echoing, rushing water, and the scent of damp moss. The key is to let this image take up space in your brain to prevent yourself from “re-engaging with thoughts, worries, and concerns” pre-sleep.
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