These are 38 tips on how to fall asleep fast and sleep better. This list is constantly updated with the valuable help of our readers (thank you guys and gals) so check back from time to time to see what new ideas are included.
There are some lucky people that seem to already have learned how to get to sleep fast and sleep for a long time and some of the luckiest ones fall asleep the instant they put the head on the pillow.
The rest of us have to go through many minutes or hours of simply looking at the ceiling before being able to fall asleep. Testing lots and lots of sleeping positions, trying to have a clear mind, even counting sheep are useless tips on how to fall asleep fast if the person suffers from insomnia, sleep apnea or any other sleeping disorder so it is best to determine the causes and then start treating it.
Now, to learn how to make yourself fall asleep fast, you need to know what are the reasons why you can’t fall asleep.
Why can’t I fall asleep?
Besides sleeping disorders, there are many others elements that simply stop people in getting their deserved sleep. But this time is something that they are fully responsible for. I am talking about bad habits like:
– thinking at all the problems they have, all the debts, work problems, health issues, instead of concentrating on falling asleep.
– remembering something bad that happened to them, how someone insulted them or any other memory from the past that should stay in the past.
– getting into bed with one thought in mind: “I will have one of those nights when I can’t fall asleep. Off, I wish I could sleep fast like my boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife. They are so lucky”. This just the type of attitude that is keeping you awake and keeps the sleep at a distance.
– going to bed full of stress after a hard day at the office or with the kids would keep you nervous and unable to sleep.
After a morning wake up and a lot of hours at work, we all want to just go home, take a shower, eat and enjoy a relaxing sleep. If you are one of those unlucky ones that crave for some sleep and most of the times you don’t get it, read the followings indications on how to fall asleep fast and apply them.
Important! This is an on-going list of ways to fall asleep fast and it will be improved in time until it has all the ways that people can use to fall asleep, so if you have a suggestion or some tips on how to fall asleep fast that would fit in here, just leave a comment bellow and your tip will be included on this page. Thank you!
You should use pills only when necessarily and make sure they are natural pills. If your doctor prescribed sleeping pills, that doesn’t mean you have to take them every night, without even trying to get to sleep naturally, without all those pills. Even if those pills help you sleep fast, you will be soon become addicted to them and you will be forced to take them every night, for the rest of your life.
In some cases, these sleeping pills create such an addiction that if the person in cause wants to have an afternoon nap, will have to take the sleeping pills in this case too. It is best learn to how to fall asleep fast naturally so why not give it a chance and read the tips below on how to fall asleep at night.
If you experience sever problems in falling asleep, sleeping pills may help you but also keep in mind that you have to be careful when administering them and always respect the prescription your doctor gave you. If you are willing to make some change in your lifestyle and in your daily routine you are surely to get your well deserved sleep soon.
How To Fall Asleep Fast – 37 Tricks To Fall Asleep Fast
1. Self Hypnosis.
If you haven’t yet tried this, you’re really going to love it! Who knew you didn’t need pills to fall asleep fast? All you need is a self hypnosis audio to listen to and you’ll sleep like a log, each night.
2. Just do it.
Click here to fall asleep fast every night
The best and simple tip on how to fall asleep quicker is to try to fall asleep. Some determination can really do miracles. Just think of all the good things that you will be able to do the next day if you only could learn how to fall asleep faster.
Imagine doing those things and feeling great about yourself, and just realize that you need to be rested if you want to have a great day tomorrow. Don’t try to put pressure on yourself! Just think of the end results that you will get if you could fall asleep faster tonight.
3. Read a peaceful book.
Or a boring one. They both work for me. But do this until you go to bed because the idea is to fall asleep fast and not to read 100 pages in bed and then go to sleep. The moment you feel tired, put the book down and put your head on the pillow. This is the answer if you wanted to know how to fall asleep when not tired.
4. Get rid of distractions.
A simple yet effective tip on how to fall asleep very fast is this : put all the magazines, the remote control, fliers, books or any distraction away from the bed because this way you won’t be tempted to use them and you can fall asleep faster.
5. Have sex!
This is one of those activities that once completed require recovery so a good night sleep is the best solution. Men are usually the ones who feel really tired after this, so if you are a man, try it. Who said that learning how to fall asleep fast should not be fun?
6. Avoid coffee.
Don’t fill you body with caffeine during daytime because you will feel the effects at night. Too much caffeine is both harmful for your health and sleep. You can also avoid having a coffee late in the afternoon as this will interfere with your sleep too.
7. Avoid drinking too much alcohol before sleep.
Boozing your body is not helping you sleep faster but will give you some well deserved headaches. Night sweats from alcohol are very common today when people abuse their bodies and drink too much.
8. Cut down on sweets.
One of the hardest tips on how to fall asleep fast without pills is to limit the amount of chocolate or candies that you eat. All that sugar will keep you very energized and unable to sleep.
9. Turn the lights off.
This is a no-brainer but so many people try to fall asleep with the night lamp on and is not a miracle they don’t succeed. This will, in most cases, be the answer to the how to fall asleep faster question that one may have. Some people can and prefer to sleep with the lights one, but, most of us can’t do that. We sometimes tend to forget that we sleep better without any lights on, so we need to remember ourselves that. If you have trouble sleeping even with the smallest sign of light peaking through your curtains, try using an eye mask.
10. Don’t waste time in front of the PC.
Avoid staying in front of the computer till later in the night if is not necessary. All that bright light coming from the computer won’t help you to fall asleep faster.
11. Exercise.
This is great for your health and is inducing sleep too. By exercising you will also reduce stress and you will have greater chances of falling asleep faster. This works for a small part of people, but the next tip is exactly the opposite of this one.
12. Don’t exercise close to bed time.
Most people will feel energized if they work out before bedtime and this will stop them from falling asleep. Because of the adrenaline that is created when we workout, we feel alive and a boost of energy fills our bodies and that is why you should not workout before bedtime unless you know that this will make you sleepy. If I start doing this, I can’t fall asleep too soon, and that’s why I exercise early in the morning. But, who knows how you will feel after this. Just try it and see.
13. Pamper yourself with a nice bath.
A warm bath can give us the answers to how to fall asleep faster. So, have a warm bath. You will feel relaxed and the sleep will come naturally. You should take a bath with 1 or 2 hours prior to going to sleep, because the steam and that hot water will make you sleepy about 1-2 hours after the bath has been taken.
Use bath oils to create a relaxing atmosphere or dip into a bathtub full of bubbles. Look for a bubble bath that smells like your favorite flowers or like bubble gum if you want a quirk moment.
Click here to check some bath oils or here if you want a tub full of bubbles.
You should always try this for a couple of nights and see how it works best for you. Maybe you can take a bath and go to bed right after that or maybe you need to have a warm bath with 4 hours before going to bed. Who could know what makes you feel better? Special thanks to Maria who pointed out that some people will sleep better if they take a bath with more than 3 hours before sleep time. I think this also represents one of fastest ways for children to sleep. Try to give your child a bath prior to sleep and see if it makes him sleepy.
14. Ssst!
Make sure that is quiet in the bedroom. Noise can disturb your sleep and if it continues, you may have a sleepless night. A white noise machine will cover all the unwanted sounds and replace them with what they call a “smooth sound of rushing air”. Here you will find some models and reviews to help you better decide.
15. Count sheep or anything else.
I know that this is one of well know ways to fall asleep faster, but it does work in some cases, so it’s worth a try. You can count your breaths, the breaths of your bed mate or any other thing that relaxes you. Try not to focus on counting. Sleeping will be piece a cake if you do this.
16. Close your eyes gently and act sleepily.
You probably know the old “fake it till you make it” rule, and this is a great time to use this to your own benefit. Lots of times I pretended to be asleep just to scare someone and while I waited to perform the prank with my eyes closed I ended up falling asleep.
17. Think of your hobbies.
How to fall asleep faster? Just imagine yourself doing something that you like. I, for example, I think of cleaning my closet, decorating the house etc. Think what works for you and be creative.
18. Have a light dinner.
An easy to follow tip on how to fall asleep really fast is to avoid having big meals before getting into bed. It takes a couple of hours or more to digest the food and you risk staying awake if you eat more than you need.
19. Drink a cup of hot tea.
I use Chamomile tea and it works. See what works for you and use it. Go the natural way and avoid teas that contain caffeine or have stimulating effects.
20. Be comfortable.
Did you know that wearing comfy pajamas might be a great answer to the question how to fall asleep fast and easy? If your top is too tight you are sure not to fall asleep anytime soon.
21. Have a good mattress.
Not too soft or too hard, big enough to allow you to move easily.
22. Avoid afternoon naps.
You will risk sleeping way too much in the daytime and you won’t be able to sleep at all at night.
23. Listen only to ambient music.
It might sound a bit dull at first, but if you have patience you will see the results. On Amazon you will find thousands of MP3s or audio CDs with the proper type of music. Click here to check their products yourself and learn how to fall asleep fast tonight.
24. Have your sweet one in mind.
Another tip that will help you fall asleep fast is to think at your loved one. This will definitely relax you and you can fall asleep faster.
25. Pray.
Focus on what you pray and don’t let your thoughts to run away. Think of all the things you are grateful for and you will feel relaxed and stress free.
26. Sing your favorite song in your head.
Think at the clip, at the singer, at the dance. But feel relaxed and wait for the sleep to come. Use this and you won’t ever ask yourself how can you get to sleep quickly.
27. Say no to noisy clocks.
One of the good ways on how to fall asleep fast is to avoid having clocks in your bedroom. You won’t be tempted to look at the time and you will fell less pressure. The second solution will be a silent, no tick clock, like these here.
28. Do some stretching while in bed.
Think at what a cat does before going to sleep. The cat will do some really good stretching before she goes to sleep, and the question is how does this thing help the cat? Well, by stretching like, the cat is relaxing her muscles and getting ready to get some sleep. Cats can teach anyone a thing or two about how to go to sleep at night quickly. And this may help you too.
29. Watch horror movies. Just kidding!
Don’t watch horror movies before getting to bed. You will think at them all night and no wonder you won’t be able to fall asleep fast. You need happy thoughts, not the The Texas chain saw massacre.
30. Practice deep breathing.
Plain simple trick on how to fall asleep faster than ever.
31. Have a pet with you.
They are great sleeping pills for their owners. They can give you a positive boost of energy and make you sleepier after you play with them. You could learn a thing or two from them on how to fall asleep fast.
32. Use aromatherapy.
This will relax you and create a good atmosphere in your bedroom, just perfect for sleeping. Here you will find tons of products.
33. What’s your best sleeping posture?
It seems that sleeping in your favorite position is also very helpful for a good sleep. Finding a good position is which you feel comfortable and you are also relaxing your jaw will help in both falling asleep fast and sleeping great. Your jaw has been working for an entire day so it needs rest as well as you, so make sure that it has a good position so that it can relax. This tip was sent by Judy. Thank you, Judy!
34. Use ear plugs.
Get a pair or ear plugs so that no one or nothing will disturb your sleep. Even if you do fall asleep, if you are sensitive to outside noises and something happens during the night, you will probably wake up and this is why you need ear plugs. Here are some ear plugs that will do the trick and decently priced as well.
Just give them a try and you will see why they are so good. These could even help you to fall asleep faster, because as soon as you put them inside your ears, you will hear nothing and you will probably want to sleep, and with no one to bother you, you will get sleepy and fall asleep. Thanks for this tip, John!
35. Use Lavender to fall asleep
Spray a light mist of lavender around the room you are sleeping in and maybe even on your sheets. This worked for Annaabelle. Thanks for the tip!
36. Count backwards
One commenter suggested counting backwards from a 1000 and we will realize we are sleepy when we start mixing numbers and begin counting forward! Thanks for this tip, David!
37. Make some noise
It seems that some people find it difficult to fall asleep when they don’t have any kind of noise around them. User Kaoru Hitachiin said that he can’t sleep without a fan going on and a small waterfall sound in the background. Maybe this will work for you as well.
38. Avoid distraction.
Don’t look at TV or listen to music as it’s most likely these will keep you awake more than it should. So yes, learning how to fall asleep faster does require some sacrifices, but it will all be worth it.
You can use one tip at a time or try to combine more than one tip and soon you will teach others how to fall asleep fast. Remember, if you have a tip that you would like to share, just leave a comment bellow and it will be included in this page, if it is good and not already in here. Thank you! If you wish to try out a good way to fall asleep fast for free then you can try it here.
PS: I’ve added a how to fall asleep fast video with 10 of the most helpful ways to fall asleep fast. Hope this helps you!
When I go to bed and I can’t seem to get to sleep. I squeeze all of my muscles for a few seconds and then release them and that is a very relaxed feeling. Works great for people who cannot get comfortable at night before bed.
well maybe that’s not a good way to fall asleep
It’s actually #20 on this list. “Be comfortable” so yeah, it will help you go to sleep.
i do that sometimes…when i remembef too.
I learned that technique in a dance class once, I squeeze each muscle (starting from the feet) and then release it… Then move on to legs, calfs, abs ect… Great way to relax 🙂
Try putting a poster up of something that you like. For example a Taylor Swift poster.
Every night I would fall asleep at 6-7 am and I am panicking about my sleep routine. Im not sure if this is sleep disorder or if my sleeping routine is screwed up. Everytime I lay in bed, I close my eyes and they wont stay shut! I have been waking up at 12 pm or 4-5 pm everyday. I am only 11 and this is very, very bad for a 11 year old.
ive tried counting backwards,tea,music, the tv, im sure ive tried everything but nothing works i dont like sleeping alone bc i think about my boyfriend and cant stop wishing he were here.. and idk what to do…? please help -Rachel<3
I m working about 9 hours a day and mostly finishing at 2 am and i cant sleep till 6 am . I think i made my own time diffrence and im always sleeping at day time and some day i cant sleep even late at 6 am pls give me some advice if some 1 have same problem
Stare at a wall and don’t blink. Works all the time! Hope I helped 🙂 sweet dreams 😀
some times when i get warm and comfortable i get hot. So i stick one leg or foot out from under the blanket in a cool room. Works everytime.
I just watched a scary movie any ways I can fall asleep without being scared?
Sometimes i like to study but then i fall asleep so when i CANT sleep at night i pretend im studying or like pretend to be asleep then it works (thats what i did when i was little so i got out of study now it just stuck to me):)
When I try and fall asleep it take hours I just sit their and read or watch tv I go to sleep at like 4 o’clock in the morning and I need to fix that reading helps a lot and taking a nice warm bath
Tense every muscle in your body then slowly relax.
I have tried almost all of these. Everytime i think of something I enjoy I get overtaken by horrid memories.. What do I do? Get stoned? Smoke lavandar?
I usually say Thank you God for the blessing of the day, and thank you Universe for the blessings of tomorrow, and i am out… If i cant sleep i just say thank you, thank you.
I find it quite easy to fall asleep but if i am struggling i just try my best to stay relaxed and have a clear mind 🙂
How to remove things in my mind. It’s make me hard to sleep.
I know this sounds obvious but don’t go to bed with your socks on as it will cause heat to build up in your feet and you won’t notice it but it will keep you awake so yeah try not sleeping with socks on if you sleep with socks on.
When I can’t fall asleep I usually think of myself as some kind of profession such as a spy, detective, sports player, business man, or even a janitor and think of a scenario and solve it do it build it or write it in and try to visualize it in my mind.
Well, reading this made me sleepy… haha, I usually just turn a fan on and it tunes everything out and gives a nice breeze I like to sleep with my blankets over my face I’m not sure, it’s usually daylight when I sleep anyways… or I get one of my mates to sing to me if they’re awake.
I listen to music to fall asleep but now light/low music it’s about an average level. Like when u would listen to it In your vehicle. Mainly because I Listen to music 24/7 I feel less stressed and block just about everything out.
PS I listen to techno, house, trance, dubstep, drumstep, DnB, ETC. my fav genres of music. So I would suggest u try to listen to your fav. Genre(s) at a level you would see fit.
im soo exausted its 01:44 in the morning ivetried everything and it dont work ow its 01:45
Don’t be cold when you fall asleep. It is easier to relax when you are warm and comfortable
This might sound crazy but if you listen to your breathing it helps you get to sleep! I do it all the time and when I’m putting my little brothers to bed I always breath loud so they can listen to it and it makes them go to bed faster too!!
I work everyday dealing with unnecessary stress, this has helped me lots.
I watch my fish swim in there tank for a while, I guess the simple motions lull me to sleep.
i can only sleep in complete darkness.
i used to have trouble sleeping but started using lavender
scented candles before i went to bed and it’s really calming and
relaxing. xoxox
When I can’t go to sleep, I listen to some relaxing choral music, but usually I don’t struggle with it.
A good method that I use is after getting in a comfortable position, I relax all the muscles in my body from my toes to my head! Remember, it only takes about 7 minutes for the average person to fall asleep–so don’t get discouraged!
WHEN IM TIRED I TAKE OFF THE COVER AND LAY MY HEAD ON THE MATTRESS ALSO LAVA LAMPS WORK TYPE RAIN HITTING TIN ROOF AND LET THE SCREENSAVER COME ON
Best ever advice for falling asleep is to lie comfortably and think about your day from the moment your head hit the pillow backwards relive in your mind everything you did – every conversation you had, picking things up and moving them, even evey trip to the loo your whole day back from the end and I guarantee you won’t make it all the way back to breakfast! Try it !!
I often get up, walk around a bit, have a light snack. Then I open all my bedroom windows for cool fresh air and change my sleeping possition. It usually helps. Staying in bed, trying to sleep, just makEs me frustrated.
Count backward from 300 to 0
B/c, it makes you feel boring.
Give a try!
i’ll try to count back ward from 300 to 0 let’s see how it works if it does i’ll txt you back letting you know it worked
I just count sheep.
I have dogs cuddle with me. It makes me feel safe when I’m scared.I also close my eyes and imagine that I’m spinning or rocking back and forth it helps even if it sounds crazy.
I have to have noise so I sleep with a clock next to me
I count the ticks and it soothes me so that I fall asleep
I get so fustrated with sleeping. Ever since I was younger, I have had problems with my mind shutting down at night. It is like I just lay there in a deep thought but, I do not actually fall asleep…. Then I wake up more tired then I was before I went to bed. I’ve have tried everything to help, I mean, sometimes I fall right asleep but not very often. I begin taken sleep medication prescribed by my doctor and my body got used to it, so he prescribed a stronger medication. I eventually quit taking it because it was making me a unable to wake up. I felt as if I could sleep for days. I even tried meditation, it made me feel relaxed and sleepy, but right when I should have fallen asleep, my mind wouldn’t flip over. Now, I’m searching for the internet for help but, I am not finding anything I haven’t tried!
I bought a ebook a long time ago called powerful sleep. It worked wonders at the time for me, it had a lot of advice you don’t hear elsewhere. The one I remember was develop an daily exercise routine, its a pain but it did work. You used to be able to get the first 2 chapters free but im not sure anymore.
I tried counting backwards and it worked!I also have the softest pillow wich i put on top of my head. It blocks light and covers my ears for complete quiet. I also play waterfall or ocean tunes on youtube on my iphone. Or favorite songs with slight piano in background over and over. I also sleep with my soft fluffy shih-tzu. It’s really relaxing. Yet later in the night Fluffy jumps out my bed and goes down stairs to his own bed. Happy Sleeping and good night everyone 🙂
To fall asleep listening to the tv or radio at a low volume helps me.
my dad tells me to think of nothing and to close my eyes.
and i cant fall to sleep but this stuff helps a lot.
I had a chameleon and the feeder crickets helped me sleep and fish tanks work great!
Thanks for the tips. I tried playing some mellow music on my piano, and within 10 minutes I was asleep in bed. I think it was very relaxing and it requires work, which can make you sleepy.
Thanx a lot, really. My sleeping problems are getting really bad, and you helped me big time- the living dead look really isn’t in.
Like the OHSHC reference, good to know I’m not the only one out there!
Wait…in number 37… did that say Kaoru Hitachiin? As is Hikaru and Kaoru? As in Ouran High School Host Club? I’m taking THAT advice! X3
Thats what I thought!!! XD
I hear that putting your feet up against the wall, or laying on the ground with your feet up on your bed helps you fall asleep faster as well. I guess all the blood flows down into your torso and brain that it helps you fall asleep faster. I tried it, it seemed to work. I didn’t do any further research on it.
That’s a horrible idea as for one, you would eventually have to get up to reposition yourself on your bed, and for two, when all the blood pools to on part of you body when you are asleep it not only make you subconsciously makes you move your body but it also creates blood clots and rushes too much blood to your head and torso and leaves your legs without blood. This can cause serious muscle distrophy and is really bad for them. I would not recommend ever doing this again. It’s also bad for your heart for it is trying to pump the blood back to your legs but will not be able to causing it to work harder and when you are trying to fall asleep the LAST thing you want to do is make your heart work harder.
The best way that I found to sleep was breath and count like when you breath in count to 1 when you breath out count to 2 and repeat it works wonders for me I hope it helps other people, also helps if you focus only on your breathing and counting.
I like listening to the fan or sleeping on my stomach with my face in my pillow so that I can listen to the sound of my breathing.
Be careful not to sufficate!!! LOL 🙂
Getting a softer mattress really helped. It is so nice getting in a soft bed after a long hard workout.
I can’t sleep without reading a book, something making noise, (even a tv- I hate the quiet) and something on my back(it makes me feel less alone, and when I feel alone, I get stressed). Thanks for the tips!
Im usually very busy as a singer so after I finish a concert, I’m still with the adrenaline rush. I usuall just turn everything off and block everything else that is going out
This works really well 4 me 🙂
A way to slow down adrenaline rush is to just relax it will help you fall asleep faster. Just breath in deep and relax your muscles.
If I have trouble turning of my mind, I plan my dream home in my head. The furniture, the layout, etc room by room. It will usually distract me from focusing on not being able to go to sleep.
You can also try drinking a warm glass of milk …it works everytime for me (:
Im only 12 and i cant fall asleep. i have tried everything! i need something new to try. anyone hve any other ideas? i heard lots of great ideas though. thx for trying to help
One of the things that makes me fall asleep faster is to listen to crickets outside or a stream off in the distance.I got to outdoor vacations one of them had a stream and i fell asleep in like five minutes.Hope this works for you!!
Well sometimes, I turn off the T.V. and have the room completely dark with exactly no light, then I close my eyes and take deep slow breaths and while I’m doing that during each breath i say sleepy, in less than 5 minutes I’m usually asleep. Another way is I count backwards with each slow deep breaths. Maybe you want to try to be in a completely black silent place and just lay there and close your eyes and talk to yourself about you sleeping, also on YouTube there’s relaxation music that really helps when you fall asleep, so just lay in a dark silent room and play this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNqERBWaJeM&feature=related
HOPE THIS HELPED!!!
I’m 12 also. Iv’e found myself falling asleep at 4:00, but then waking up at 9:00 or earlier.
I like it when im backwards upside down twirling in the air. Try that t always works forme.