If you’re like most of us Brits who can’t seem to fall into a listless sleep at the drop of the hat, you’re going to want to try the ‘military’ sleep method.
This is something that claims to send you off to sleep within minutes and it’s easy peasy to try.
While you might think it’s a load of tosh (harsh words, reader – even for you) a fitness coach has backed it.
Justin Agustin shared the hack with his TikTok following (Getty Stock Image)
Justin Agustin has claimed that the military sleep method will get you into the land of Zzz in just two minutes and is apparently effective for 96 percent of people.
Sharing on TikTok, Agustin explained that it’s the ‘technique to fall asleep in two minutes’, but put out a warning that most people who give it a go will need to practice for around six months to see the full results.
Don’t moan. It could really help you out in the future.
Think of it as a sleep investment.
The video shows Justin giving a demo of how to drift off to sleep in two minutes (Getty Stock Image)
What is the military sleep method?
Well, according to the experts, the technique was developed by the US Army, apparently ‘mainly for fighter pilots who need 100 percent of their reflexes’ and for those in active combat who need to be able to fall asleep in noisy and stressful situations – perhaps even on the battlefield in order to recharge and refresh.
It’s thought to have first been shared with civilians in the 1981 book Relax and Win: Championship Performance, written by American track and field coach Lloyd Bud Winter.
Winter hoped that the method would help him recover faster from injuries and improve his overall performance.
And if you fancy giving it a go yourself, it’s pretty easy.
How to do the military sleep method
First up, you need to get yourself into a comfortable position, once that’s done turn your thoughts to your breathing and then begin to slowly relax your entire body to ‘shut it down’.
Start off with your scalp, and then work down towards your forehead and facial features.
Make sure your whole body is relaxed: arms are loose and to your sides and imagine a warmth spreading from your head to your fingertips.
Then you move to your chest and take a deep breath to help it relax, and then continue to the stomach, thigh, legs and feet.
The warm sensation needs to be imagined going from your heart down to your toes.
But the hack doesn’t stop there, while ensuring your body feels nice and relaxed, you also need to clear your mind of any stressors – you can do this by picturing a soothing scenario such as lying in a canoe on a clear, calm lake, or tucked away inside a hammock in a dark room.
If your mind does start to wander, repeat: “Don’t think,” to yourself for ten seconds.
I don’t know about you, but I feel quite tired already.