Can't Sleep? Try This Weird 5-Minute Trick Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman reckons he's got a surprisingly simple solution – and it sounds a bit bonkers.
We've all been there: lying awake at 3am with your brain going ten to the dozen. The harder you try to sleep, the worse it gets. But Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman reckons he's got a surprisingly simple solution – and it sounds a bit bonkers.
The Trick
On Real Time with Bill Maher, Huberman shared what he does when he wakes up in the middle of the night:
- Keep your eyes shut (no cheating!)
- Gently move your eyes side to side behind your closed eyelids, like you're slowly watching a tennis match
- Take long, slow breaths out – really draw out each exhale
- He reckons most people will be asleep within five minutes
Why It Actually Works
This isn't just made-up nonsense. There's proper science behind it:
The breathing bit: Long exhales activate your "rest and digest" system, lowering your heart rate and telling your brain everything's alright. It counteracts that wired, anxious feeling keeping you awake.
The eye movement: Moving your eyes side to side mimics REM sleep (when you dream naturally). It quiets down the worrying parts of your brain without much effort – your mind gets gently distracted and sleep sneaks in.
Give It a Go Tonight
Next time you're wide awake:
1. Stay in bed, lights off, eyes closed
2. Take a few slow breaths – make the out-breath longer than the in-breath
3. Gently move your closed eyes left... right... left... right...
4. Keep those long exhales going
5. Do this for a few minutes and see what happens
The Bottom Line
Huberman admits it sounds weird, but loads of people who've tried it say they drift off in under five minutes. Worth a shot when you're staring at the ceiling at stupid o'clock, isn't it?
Sweet dreams! 😴