The 5-Minute Habits That Help Sleep Experts Fall Asleep Faster

You probably know some people who can fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow. For others, falling asleep can be a tedious task. Whether that’s because you simply aren’t tired, have a lot on your mind, can’t get comfortable, or anything else, these common sleep issues can rob you of rest.

“ Sleep is universally important and each sleeper has their own unique preferences for promoting sleep,” said Dr. Peter Polos , a sleep medicine specialist in New Jersey. “ There are many elements that contribute to sleep onset and what works for one person may not work for the next, but the key is to find those elements that work for you and make an effort to maintain them at bedtime.”

With that in mind, we tapped a few sleep experts and doctors for their insights on how to fall asleep. They suggested a few five-minute sleep tips that you may want to try out when bedtime rolls around.

Do a brain dump

Anxiety is one of the main reasons people have trouble falling asleep and that can be a result of racing thoughts. One way to help minimize that is by doing a “brain dump.”

“Write down on a notepad everything that is on your mind. This ‘brain dump’ can help get thoughts out of your mind that might keep you awake,” saidRebecca Robbins, a sleep researcher and sleep expert at Oura, a device that promises to help maximize sleep, activity and recovery.

This will not only help clear your mind from the racing thoughts, but also will keep those thoughts in a tangible form, which is especially helpful for those who fear they’ll forget something important when they go to sleep.

Turn off your electronic devices

Whether it’s a computer, phone or tablet, you’ll want to steer clear of electronic devices before bedtime.

“ I typically