This Blinking Trick Could Help You Fall Asleep In Just 60 Seconds

EyelidsI struggle to get to sleep at the best of times, an issue the recent onslaught of heatwaves hasn’t helped. All the ‘pink noise’, delayed bedtimes, and even electricity changes have helped somewhat. But I’m always on the lookout for new tips – especially those that involve minimal effort. Luckily, TikToker Helena Kennedy shared one of those in a recent clip, in which she revealed tips from her psychiatrist that helped her to defeat insomnia. One of them involved blinking for a solid minute. So, we thought we’d find out whether it works.How can blinking help you get to sleep?Kennedy claimed blinking fast for 60 seconds means your eyes “get tired and trick your brain into sleep mode”.A 2013 study found that blinking gives your brain a temporary “reset”, while 2017 research suggests blinking is treated “like a tiny nap” by your brain. It can decrease time perception by as much as 50-70%, researchers found.But does that mean blinking will serve as a fast pass to the land of nod?Well, speaking to Bustle, Livvi DiCicco, a sleep science coach with Sleepopolis, said it might, mostly because it serves as a distraction, which can be helpful if you’re lying in bed awake for more than 30 minutes. Additionally, the expert said it can help to mimic your body’s natural sleeping cues, which may help your brain to realise it’s time to switch off. How else can I get to sleep? Morning light is uniquely helpful for orienting your body clock, which some researchers suggest is more important than actual sleeping hours for feeling reset. Therefore, going on a morning walk may help to get your Circadian rhythm in order. Some studies suggest there could be some serious benefits to “clock blocking”, or refusing to look at the time when you get up in the middle of the night (I also swear by this trick).And in a previous interview, sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan from Oak Tree Mobility told me “there’s a form of insomnia... called ‘orthosomia’, a term for the obsession with getting a good night’s sleep”.In other words, try not to panic too much about your kip; it might paradoxically hurt you more than it helps.Related...This Phone Charger Mistake Can Ruin Your Sleep In A HeatwaveDo Dads Sleep Through Their Babies' Cries At Night?Neurologist Shares The 1 Sleep Change That Could Reduce Dementia Risk

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