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How to Fall Asleep in 2 Minutes Using the Military Sleep Method
How long does it take you to fall asleep at night? 10 minutes? An hour?
What if you could fall asleep in 2 minutes?
In the 1980s, the U.S. Army noticed that military pilots had made simple mistakes caused by exhaustion. So, they developed a simple technique to help them fall asleep quickly, day or night, in any condition. Pilots got more rest and felt more alert on the job, leading to fewer mistakes.
Fortunately, you don’t have to join the army to use the same technique in your bedroom. If you’re one of the many “civilians” who feel exhausted at work on a near-daily basis. It may help you fight sleep deprivation and feel more productive at work.
In this article, you’ll learn how to use this military-grade sleeping method. Soon, you could be dozing off in as little as 2 minutes, too.
Here's what this article covers:
Table of Contents
Should You Try Falling Asleep the Army Way?
Many people struggle to fall asleep at night. If you’re reading this, you could use some help, too.
Tuck says if you're average, it likely takes you about 10 to 20 minutes to get to sleep(1). Meanwhile, if you struggle to fall asleep or deal with insomnia; it might take you over an hour to doze off.
And that’s a bigger problem than inconvenience alone.
If you have trouble falling asleep at night and you’re not waking up later to compensate, you’re likely not getting enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to a variety of health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death.
And it's not just physical, but your mental health suffers due to sleep deprivation. It can exacerbate depression. Something to note is if you don’t get enough sleep regularly, it may also be a sign of depression.
So what can you do if “sleep hacks” and counting sheep aren’t working for you?
Well, it may be time to stop using civilian methods and try falling asleep in the army way.
The 1981 book Relax and Win: Championship Performance showed the military technique you're about to learn. Since then, it has taught many people (both military and civilian) how to fall asleep as quickly as possible, in any environment, without any special equipment.
Before we dive in, be aware that mastering this sleeping technique takes practice and patience. But if you persevere, you’ll be rewarded. According to Fast Company, the army has reported that this works for 96% of people after 6 weeks(2). So be patient if you don’t experience results after one night.
Now that you’re briefed let’s get right to it.
Ready to get some sleep, soldier?
The Army Way to Fall Asleep
Step 1: Create the Right Environment for Sleep
First, set your alarm for the following day. Then, silence your phone (no distractions!). Turn off all lights except your bedside lamp, and sit on the edge of your bed with your legs hanging off the side.
Step 2: Start to Relax Before Sleeping
Now, it’s time for relaxation. Begin with your facial muscles. Relax your forehead, eyes and tongue. (Yep, it’s okay to let your tongue hang loosely out of your mouth.)
Step 3: Just Breathe
For this step, try to focus only on breathing — in and out. There’s no need to think about anything else.
Step 4: Ease the Tension in Your Lower Body
At this point, intentionally let your chest start to relax. Once you feel your chest muscles relaxing, start to relax your leg muscles, beginning with your upper legs before moving to your lower legs.
Step 5: Clear Your Thoughts and Drop Your Worries
Once your body is relaxed, spend about 10 seconds trying to release any thoughts from your mind.
Step 6: Visualization for Sleep
Since you might have trouble clearing your thoughts, try using these visualization exercises.
For this, focus on one image and erase any other thoughts from your mind. A few methods mentioned in Relax and Win: Championship Performance include:
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Visualize yourself sitting in a canoe on a calm body of water. Look up and imagine a clear blue sky above you.
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Picture yourself in a dark room in a black velvet hammock in a state of relaxation.
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If these don’t work for you, repeat the phrase “don’t think” in your head for 10 seconds.
Step 7: Go to Sleep
First, turn off your bedside lamp. Then, lie down and try to drift off to sleep. If you get this technique right, you should sleep within 2 minutes.
How Long Does It Take to Work?
Remember that this technique can take 6 weeks to become effective. Don’t be discouraged if it still feels difficult after a few attempts.
If you’re willing to commit to this sleep boot camp for at least 6 weeks, you have a 96% chance of being able to fall asleep in 120 seconds flat consistently.
Isn’t that worth pursuing?
Go to Sleep in 2 Minutes
If you’ve tried other sleep techniques without success, don’t give up — this military-approved tactic could be the breakthrough you need.
Get it right with a few weeks of practice, and you may fall asleep in 2 minutes every single night.
Say goodbye to counting sheep and lying awake for hours. Forget researching sleep hacks on your lunch break as you guzzle an XL, double-strength coffee. It’s high time you get the sleep you deserve.
With this tactic, you could fall asleep fast and wake up rested. You’ll feel physically prepared for a productive workday every day. Pair it with healthy habits, and you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world.
All it takes is a little bit of practice and patience. Read up on more information on how to fall asleep fast military style and put them to work.
Lastly, check out our article for our best-of-the-best sleep tips and how to fall asleep fast. Good night and sleep tight!
Sources:
(1) Willson, Amelia. “How Long Should It Take to Fall Asleep?" Tuck, 25 Aug. 2018, www.tuck.com/how-long-should-it-take-to-fall-asleep/
(2) Grothaus, Michael. “What happened when I tried the U.S. Army’s tactic to fall asleep in two minutes.” Fast Company, 26 Oct. 2018, www.fastcompany.com/90253444/what-happened-when-i-tried-the-u-s-armys-tactic-to-fall-asleep-in-two-minutes