5 Quick Hacks For Perfect Sleep And Instant Power Naps

Do you have difficulty falling asleep? Sleep deprivation isn’t a new problem. According to the Sleep Foundation, about half of adults report feeling drowsy during the day. Over 35% are said to sleep fewer than seven hours each night.

Several sleep hacks have gone viral on the internet, but do they work? We believe some can actually provide you with the relief you’re looking for, if you take the time to master them.

1. The Military Sleep Hack

This method assists soldiers in falling asleep quickly. It is a military-proven method for falling asleep within two minutes after closing your eyes.

The hack is centered on relaxing your entire body. The key is to do so in a methodical manner to assist your body’s organs in shutting down. To use this technique, lie down flat with your arms at your sides and your hands flat against the bed.

Begin by relaxing your forehead muscles. Relax your eyes, cheeks, and the rest of your face afterwards. Then, it’s only a matter of calming the rest of your body step-by-step. Focus on relaxing your chest, arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and toes.

Consider two possibilities while relaxing. The first scenario has you lying in a boat on a tranquil lake with a beautiful clear sky above you.

For the next scene, imagine lying in a hammock in a completely dark room. If your mind wanders, remind yourself not to think for 10 seconds and bring it back into the scene.

Continue performing this military sleep hack for six weeks. With practice, it will be second nature.

2. A Weighted Blanket

Other advancements are being made in the search for strategies to help you fall asleep faster. Some experts suggest sleeping with a heavy or weighted blanket.

Why does this assist your relaxation efforts? Scientists have discovered that merely using a weighted blanket is up to 20 times more effective than typical sleep treatments in helping you sleep better.

3. Think Yourself Tired

People who eat well and exercise regularly tend to sleep well. Their bodies are getting the right nutrition and they are ready to rest from working out. This is something they know and it affects their attitude toward sleep.

One trick that has been effective for us is to simply think about how tired we are. This attitude is especially effective when we focus on how comfortable our bed and pillow are.

Additionally, we seem to conk right out when we fantasize about how much we’ll want to stay in bed in the morning. The thoughts of comfort and fatigue seem to switch us into sleep mode within a few moments.

4. Over The Counter Sleep Aids

There are several safe non-prescription sleep aids available online. We’re mentioning this option because sometimes it’s the only thing that works. However, these drugs are recommended for occasional use only. Natural sleep aids which include melatonin or lavender have shown to be helpful. 

It’s important to implement a variety of methods from your sleep arsenal and develop skills to control your ability to rest. It’s also critical to get to the root of any sleep issues, such as depression or anxiety.

5. The New Prescription Drug

If the first four tricks aren’t working for you, there’s good news. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a drug that is helping individuals fall asleep faster. It works similarly to other sleep aids in that it is taken before bedtime.

Swiss pharmaceutical company Idorsia believes their new product Quviviq can improve sleep while also preventing people from feeling drowsy the next day. With between 10% and 30% of people suffering from chronic insomnia, Idorsia is hopeful that the drug will alleviate some of the sleeping problems troubling adults today.

According to the company, it starts working right away and maintains effectiveness for the night. The user wakes up invigorated and ready to take on the day seven to eight hours later.

Difficulty sleeping is a common issue for many adults. To improve your odds of a good night’s rest, avoid screen time before bed, eat and drink less in the hours before sleep, and think relaxing good thoughts as you drift off.

Are you having weird dreams while sleeping? Check out our series of articles on dreams to learn more about remembering and understanding your dreams.

Enjoy your improved sleep!