If you have trouble falling asleep, TikTok may have just found the solution for you.
Of course, as with most things on the video-based platform, this wrist pressure technique should be taken with a grain of salt. Though it may be worth a try if you've been staring at the ceiling at night for a little too long and don't want to see your doctor about it just yet.
Posted by cold therapy experts SnapRecover, the video in question has a sleep expert in blue scrubs demonstrates how the technique works so it'll be easy for you to copy the movements should you decide to give this one a go.
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In the clip, the person guides you through the pressure point technique step by step in a soothing voice. If anything, that alone may work on helping you doze off quickly.
But if you're still determined to try anything, including a technique someone once showed on TikTok, here's what you need to do.
Claiming to solve all problems for those who want to 'fall asleep quick', the technique begins with positioning three fingers (index, middle and ring finger) on the inner wrist, starting at the wrist crease. This will help you identify the point where to apply a light pressure, located where the pinky is.
You'll now need to apply an intermittent pressure on that specific point 'right between the two tendons' for about one minute, then move onto a continuous pressure for a few seconds keeping your eyes closed.
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"And watch how you drift off to sleep," the video concludes.
While we haven't tried this supposedly miraculous technique for ourselves, it's worth noting that stimulating the Nei Guan point (that is, the point located three fingers' width below the wrist crease) in acupressure is a well-known trick to help with nausea and vomiting and is said to promote relaxation.
And given that it's rare getting in those sweet seven-to-eight hours sleep these days, it may be time we gave ourselves a little help not to be stuck counting sheep.
If applying pressure to your wrist doesn't sound like your thing, there are countless other tricks in the book to try. These include a popular military technique said to have you sleep in under two minutes by relaxing your face muscles, lower your shoulders and arms and breathing out as you relax your upper body. All while you imagine yourself being in a canoe or on a velvet hammock in a completely dark room.
Stefania Sarrubba