How to fall asleep in under 1 minute
Without a doubt, this is going to leave a lot of people skeptical. But don't knock it until you try it... it really does work.
After all if you have experienced many a sleepless night, what have you go to lose? So, it's called the “4-7-8” breathing trick. The short explaination: It simply involves breathing in through your nose for four seconds, holding your breath for seven seconds, and exhaling through your mouth for eight seconds. This isn't just a random selection of numbers, either, this studied combination has now widely been reported to have a chemical-like effect on the brain, and slows one’s heart rate and soothes one to sleep.
What it does:
- Has an almost sedative drug-like effect for some. This is because in order to hold your breath for seven seconds and then to exhale for eight your body is forced to slow your heart rate.
- You can literally feel your heart rate slow down, your mind get quieter, and your whole body physically relax.
- By extending your inhale to a count of four, you are forcing yourself to take in more oxygen, allowing the oxygen to affect your bloodstream by holding your breath for seven seconds, and then emitting carbon dioxide from your lungs by exhaling steadily for eight seconds.
- It will instantly relax your heart, mind, and overall central nervous system.
Our verdict:
Free, easy and works in an instant, what's not to love? From using it to get back to sleep if you wake in the night to having a go-to exercise to calm your nerves when you're feeling stressed, there's a reason everyone is talking about this how-to-fall-asleep-in-under-one-minute trick.
Related links:
13 reasons why you can’t sleep
5 signs you need to get more sleep