Whether it’s down to the tight legroom, engine hum or the disruptive turbulence, trying to sleep on a plane can seem like an impossible task at times.
However, sleep experts at Bed Sava have revealed an apparently foolproof method used by the military to fall asleep quickly – even in the most uncomfortable environments.
Known as the ‘military sleep method,’ it is designed to help soldiers nod off in less than two minutes. With a bit of adaptation, experts claim there is no reason as to why this will not work when dozing on your next long-haul flight.
First introduced in World War II in a U.S military manual, the technique outlines a series of steps to assure the user that they will be able to fall asleep in as little as 60 seconds:
. Step 1: Relax your face completely – Let your forehead, jaw, cheeks and tongue go loose.
. Step 2: Drop your shoulders – Let them sink down as low as possible, along with your arms.
. Step 3: Exhale and relax your chest – Let the air out slowly.
. Step 4: Relax your legs – Start with your thighs, then let your calves and feet go limp.
. Step 5: Clear your mind for 10 seconds – If thoughts creep in, picture a calm setting.
. Step 6: Repeat silently to yourself: “Don’t think… Don’t think…” for about 10 seconds.
Although the whole process takes around two minutes, many report that after repeated use they can get their falling asleep time down to as little as a minute.
This technique has recently gone viral on TikTok and Reddit, where users say it has helped them easily fall asleep on coaches, trains and planes alike.
According to Bed Sava, the reason it is so effective is because it targets both physical and mental parts.
“Most people on planes stay tense without realising it – shoulders hunched, jaw clenched, legs crossed,” sleep experts at the bed company explain. “This method focuses on deliberately releasing that tension. Once your body relaxes, the mind follows.”
It is recommended to avoid caffeine and bring a neck pillow on your flight to aid the process, along with using an eye mask and wearing loose, comfortable clothing.
With this method, say goodbye to the frustrations of the impossibility of falling asleep mid-flight and prepare for a comfortable snooze.