watch: we barely stay awake trying this #sleephack, but not for the reasons you might think
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are you part of the one-third of canadians that are having trouble sleeping? wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could just rub a spot on your head — almost like hitting a button — and sail into a deep slumber?
tiktok bodyhackers say that by rubbing a “tender spot” on your neck, just behind your ear, in a circular motion 200 to 300 times will help you fall asleep almost instantly. the videos have gained some considerable traction — one video has almost 12 million views, while another that mentions the hack alongside a host of other advice has more than six million.
unfortunately, while many tiktokers are claiming that they’ve uncovered the #sleephack to end all sleep hacks, neurosocientists and sleep researchers alike say that it’s just not what you think it is.
“i wish sleep problems were that easy to resolve, but they are not,” dr. thanh dang-vu, a neurologist and director of the sleep, cognition & neuroimaging laboratory at concordia university confirmed over email. “there is no science to support these techniques.”
for many of the viewers who swear by this video, the sleep aid might actually be something more benign. the “hack” has users focusing on a simple, repetitive movement for a fairly long period of time (counting to 300 doesn’t come quick) which may be all some need to quiet their mind long enough to fall asleep.
plus, rubbing a spot on the neck just feels good and might relieve a bit of tension, especially if you spend the day craning you neck over a computer.
“the largest sensory organ of the body is the skin,” explains neil pearson, physiotherapist and clinical assistant professor at university of british columbia. “[this process] is stimulating the skin — a lot! but for some reason, most ignore the skin and its interactions with immune system, nervous systems, and specifically the autonomic nervous system.”
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for anyone looking for some help getting to sleep at night, experts also recommend adopting good “sleep hygiene” practices. these include going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, switching off all screens at least 15 to 20 minutes before bed (night shift doesn’t count), and creating a bed time ritual like journaling or taking a relaxing bath. getting in exercise during the day, as well as avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the afternoon and evening, can also help.
if these tips don’t work, a visit to a family doctor can help rule out other underlying factors that may be contributing to your insomnia.
emma jones is a multimedia editor with healthing. you can reach her at emjones@postmedia.com or on twitter @jonesyjourn
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