😴 The “Military Method” for Falling Asleep Fast 😴
Whether you're at home or in the backcountry, sleep is one of the most powerful recovery tools and performance enhancers that you'll ever have access to.
This 7-step sleep protocol was used by U.S. Navy fighter pilots back in World War II, and still works great today.
Those fighter pilots faced grueling schedules and needed to be able to fall asleep fast, so this method – which was supposed to work in just two minutes! – was created.
Here’s how it works:
✅ Relax your entire face. Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Relax all of your facial muscles, including the muscles around your eyes, mouth, and jaw.
✅ Drop your shoulders. Release tension from your shoulders by lowering them away from your ears, then relax your arm muscles.
✅ Relax your chest and upper back. Take a deep breath and gently exhale, your back sinking into the mattress.
✅ Relax your legs. Begin with your thighs and feel your muscles grow heavy, and then work your way down to your lower legs and feet.
✅ Clear your mind completely for 10 seconds. Imagine a peaceful, beautiful setting.
✅ If that doesn’t work, try slowly repeating the phrase "don't think" to yourself over and over for about 10 seconds.
✅ Practice regularly. It takes time to master the progressive relaxation techniques in this method. Over time, your body (and brain!) may start to associate doing these steps with sleep, making it more effective.
This method uses a few tried-and-true methods to help you fall asleep: deep breathing, progressive relaxation, and visualization.
Even if takes more than two minutes for you to fall asleep, it just may help you drift off and get the rest and recovery you need.
Try it and see if it works for you!
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