Yahoo News 'I'm a sleep expert - this trick helps you fall asleep instantly when you wake at night'
Waking up in the middle of the night is annoying, but for some, falling back to sleep can be an even bigger challenge.
If you wake up at 3am and you find yourself staring at the ceiling for hours on end, then you're probably keen to find out how to stop this from happening, as a lack of sleep can wreak havoc on the following day.
And according to one sleep expert, there's a quick and easy trick that can help you to fall back asleep within minutes, ensuring you get enough rest for the day ahead.
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Adeel Ul-Haq, a sleep expert from Bunk Beds, has revealed the one trick that you can use to fall back to sleep in minutes.
He said: "Sleep is essential for our well-being and a lack of it can increase the risk of many serious health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease and more. If you find yourself waking in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep for a few hours, you are more than likely going to be sleep-deprived, but there is an easy fix."
How to fall asleep instantly
One of the worst things you can do when you wake up is check your mobile phone to see what the time is, the light from your screen can disrupt your natural sleep cycle and make it nearly impossible to fall back to sleep.
Adeel warned: "Avoid your phone and don't stress out, it's easy to get anxious about being awake but you're only going to put more pressure on yourself. Instead, relax and trick your body into a state of calm by carrying out the eye-rolling technique.
"The technique is simple, gently close your eyes and roll them towards the top of your eye sockets, you're trying to look towards the top of your head. Take a few deep breaths and then leave your eyes to fall back to their natural resting position, take another deep breath and repeat. It won't be long until you're fast asleep."
Why this trick works
When you wake in the middle of the night your natural sleep-wake cycle is disrupted and it can cause your mind to wander, the eye-rolling technique can take your focus away from your thoughts and in turn cause you to relax.
Adeel said: "Your eyes roll back into your sockets when you go to sleep, mimicking this movement can send a signal to your body to initiate the sleep cycle again. It's important to breathe slowly and calmly as you roll your eyes."
