Want to fall asleep soon as you lie in bed? Here’s how.

Learning how to fall asleep quickly sounds difficult, right? Try these strategies — all you need is your mind and your smartphone.

Some nights falling asleep doesn’t come easy, and tossing, turning and thinking about not sleeping only makes it worse.

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You probably know the basic ideas like reading a book and turning off the TV, but when those don’t work what can you do?

Turns out, there are some unconventional tactics that sleep experts and researchers have stumbled upon that rely on things like biology and psychology to induce relaxation.

Here are a few creative but simple strategies you can try practically anywhere to snooze faster and sleep better tonight. Bookmark this page, as having these fall-asleep-fast tricks on tap can make all the difference between a restless night and sweet dreams.

Breathe with your mind.

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Breathing patterns play a role in our nervous systems, tying in with heart rate and other aspects of relaxation or excitement. Whereas rapid, shallow breaths can create a sense of anxiety, deep, slow breaths can be calming.

One technique, touted by some as taking only 60 seconds to fall asleep with, is the 4-7-8 method developed by Dr. Andrew Weil. The process is fairly simple, too. Here’s how to do it:

Fall asleep in 60′

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  • Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge behind your upper teeth throughout the exercise (inhaling and exhaling).
  • Exhale completely via your mouth, making a “whooshing” sound.
  • 4: Now, close your mouth and inhale through your nose to a count of four.
  • 7: Hold your breath for seven counts.
  • 8: Exhale slowly out of your mouth to a count of eight, making the “whooshing” sound (pucker your lips if it feels awkward).

Dr. Weil recommends practicing the technique by sitting down with your back straight before trying it lying down, and repeating the cycle four times to start until you get used to it.

Chill out.

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Ever notice how a cold office seems to leave you ready for nap time? Researchers have found that cooler temperatures do indeed appear to help us get deeper sleep, and fall asleep faster. Plus, nothing feels as dreamy as wrapping up in warm blankets in a cold room.

Why does this work? Well, as our circadian rhythms approach the sleep phase, our body temperature drops slightly, and stays lower until a couple of hours before you normally wake up.

One Australian study found that insomniacs tend to feel warmer in the evenings due to the inability to maintain their core internal body temperature, which may play a role in their inability to fall asleep.

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The ideal room temperature for sleep is between 62 and 70 degrees Farenhet , depending on the season and your personal preference. If you want a go-to number to fall asleep quickly in five minutes or less, set it to 65 degrees.

Another way to help this process along is to soak in a warm bath for about two hours before bedtime, further amplifying the temperature drop. Some sleep experts also suggest sleeping in the buff, since clothing can inhibit the natural process of evening out your body temperature as you rest.

Trick your brain.

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You know how sometimes, when you try to do something, your stubborn brain backfires and does the opposite? Turns out, the principle of paradoxical intention (similar to reverse psychology, without the deception) might be useful for sleep as well.

A Scottish study found that the clinical use of paradoxical intention resulted in reduced sleep effort and anxiety for insomniacs compared to doing nothing. Likewise, a different study found that high intention to fall asleep actually resulted in worse sleep quality.

Instead of thinking about trying to go to sleep, tell yourself that you’re trying to stay awake for a few minutes. If a dark, quiet bedroom makes your mind run, you can also try listening to calming sounds or visualize relaxing activities in your mind to take the focus off sleep itself.

Daydream with purpose.

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For many people who struggle with falling asleep, rumination or unwanted thoughts can play a big role. Instead of drifting off peacefully, your mind slogs through the day’s events, embarrassing moments from years past, or tomorrow’s to-do list.

One way to break the rumination cycle or disperse unwanted thoughts before bed is to practice visualization or imagery, similar to daydreaming. There are a few ways to do this:

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  • Simply visualize a calming scene in your mind, imagining and exploring it in detail — it could be a serene beach, calm forest or anywhere else.
  • Alternatively, you might visualize yourself doing something positive but repetitive. Shooting free throws is a frequently recommended example.
  • Guided audio visualizations can also be helpful. In these programs, you follow along with the directions to relax and imagine scenes, which some people will find easier. Dartmouth’s Student Wellness Center and the University of Houston both offer free audio tracks to try.
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It may sound hippy dippy, but if you focus on it effectively, daydreaming about relaxing scenes can really help ease your mind. During visualization, know that it’s OK if your mind wanders but keep returning your focus to the scene. Try out different methods and audio tracks to see what works best for you. Visualization can also be a helpful mid-day stress reliever to keep in mind.

Eat carbs at night.

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This tip will take prior planning, but one study found that eating carbs four hours before bed helped people fall asleep quickly and sleep better. Other research has found that low-carb diets can affect sleep as well.

The research looked at simple carbs, which are quickly and easily digested. These include things like white rice, white bread and pasta, and potatoes (as well as sugary foods). Interestingly enough though, a Japanese study only found sleep benefits from rice and not from bread or noodles. If you are trying to minimize carbs, it may be most beneficial for your sleep to at least eat a serving for dinner.

The key here is to keep dinners simple and moderate in portion, so you won’t be bothered with indigestion later. Eating carbs four hours before sleep was more effective than one hour prior in the study, meaning planning your evening meals could prove helpful. Spicy foods can also affect your ability to fall asleep quickly, so keep that in mind, too.

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If you regularly have trouble sleeping, it might also be helpful to read about the basics of good sleep hygiene, and how to set your bedroom up for success.

If you try all these strategies and still fail to sleep, book an appointment with your doctor to check what the problem could be.

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