Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, practicing good sleep hygiene, and aiming for 8 hours of sleep each night are all excellent advice. However, there are times when, despite your best efforts, sleep remains elusive. In such cases, alternative sleep tips and hacks can be the key to finally drifting off. The Tom’s Guide Sleep Team has tested various unconventional methods to determine which ones truly work. From unique sleepmaxxing techniques like mouth taping to neuroscience-based tricks such as cognitive shuffling, here are seven effective strategies to help you fall asleep faster.

Taking a warm bath before bedtime is a favorite among our team for more reasons than one. Beyond the immediate relaxation and muscle tension relief, a warm bath plays a crucial role in regulating your core body temperature. As your body cools down after leaving the warm water, it signals to your mind and body that it’s time to sleep. Adding lavender oil, known for its sleep-inducing properties, can enhance this effect. This ritual also offers a screen-free opportunity to unwind, setting the stage for a restful night.

Anxious thoughts and daily stressors can make falling asleep a challenge. Journaling your to-do list before bed allows you to transfer your worries from your mind to paper, helping to clear your head. Senior Sleep Writer Ruth Jones swears by this method, as it not only calms her nighttime anxiety but also streamlines her morning routine. By organizing your thoughts in writing, you reduce mental clutter and create a sense of control over your tasks, paving the way for peaceful sleep.

Cognitive shuffling is a powerful technique to break free from a tangled web of thoughts that keep you awake. This method involves visualizing a series of random, unconnected objects, disrupting your brain’s attempt to make sense of lingering thoughts. Sleep Features Editor Lauren Jeffries finds it to be her go-to sleep hack, effective 99% of the time. By effectively scrambling your thoughts, cognitive shuffling allows your brain to ease into sleep naturally, helping you drift off more quickly.

Activating the parasympathetic nervous system through focused breathing can significantly enhance your ability to fall asleep. Techniques like the 4-7-8 method, box breathing, and moon breathing slow down your heart rate and relax both mind and body. Eve Davies, a Sleep Writer, highlights the effectiveness of the 4-7-8 method, which involves breathing in for four seconds, holding for seven, and exhaling for eight. This simple practice helps distract the mind from anxious thoughts, making it easier to transition into sleep.

Mindfulness meditation has gained popularity for its ability to bring your focus to the present moment, reducing stress and promoting relaxation. Techniques such as the Military Sleep Method, which involves visualizing peaceful scenarios, can be particularly effective in aiding sleep. Guided meditations, available through various audio and video platforms, offer structured practices that can help beginners ease into meditation. Senior Sleep Editor Claire Davies found that certain guided meditations enabled her to fall asleep quickly, even after a stressful day.

Surprisingly, wearing socks to bed can help you fall asleep faster by regulating your body temperature. Keeping your feet covered initiates distal vasodilation, where blood flows to your extremities, ultimately lowering your core body temperature. This temperature drop signals to your body that it’s time to sleep. Opting for breathable materials like wool or cotton ensures comfort without overheating, making it a simple and effective way to enhance your sleep quality.

A tidy bedroom can significantly impact your ability to fall asleep by creating a peaceful environment. Clutter and mess can increase stress and anxiety, making it harder to relax. Incorporating a quick decluttering routine before bedtime helps clear both your physical space and your mind. Sleep Editor Nicola Appleton emphasizes that organizing your bedroom not only reduces stress levels but also establishes a consistent nighttime routine, setting you up for a more restful night.

Falling asleep should ideally take between 10 to 20 minutes, but individual experiences may vary. If you consistently find yourself lying awake for longer periods, it might be time to consult a healthcare professional to identify underlying issues. Improving your sleep hygiene—through balanced meals, reduced caffeine intake, and consistent sleep schedules—can also help reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. By incorporating these alternative tips and hacks, you can enhance your ability to achieve a faster and more restful night's sleep.