Why the 2-Minute Military Sleep Method Can Backfire (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: This viral sleep hack might actually be keeping you awake. The so-called military sleep method promises to help you fall asleep in just two minutes using breathing, muscle relaxation, and mental imagery. It was developed to help World War II Navy pilot trainees fall asleep under stressful conditions. But sleep experts say that trying to fall asleep in two minutes can do more harm than good.

[00:00:22] Speaker 2: To say that you can fall asleep with this method and you should fall asleep within two minutes is a dangerous idea. The minute your head hits the pillow at night, if you are falling asleep within that minute, it means one of two things. It means you're chronically sleep deprived or you have an undiagnosed sleep disorder. Falling asleep within two minutes, it's an unrealistic goal. You're just going to get frustrated trying to achieve something that quite honestly is impossible.

[00:00:53] Speaker 1: Is there anything civilians can learn from how the military sleep?

[00:00:56] Speaker 2: Really, it comes down to discipline, right? Dimming the lights in your house at the same time, getting in bed, reading a book, not watching TV or being on social media at the same time, and then implementing some sort of breath work or progressive muscle relaxation. Like the body will catch on quickly to it. And if you do it day after day, you'll have no issues falling asleep.