Thanks to a perfect storm of social media, political uncertainty, and a small rectangle next to your bed that holds infinite knowledge — falling asleep has never been harder. Over 20% of Americans have reported a chronic sleep disorder, and the numbers continue to rise, year over year.
So what’s the solution? 9 million Americans are currently taking prescription sleeping pills, and like those with chronic sleep disorders, those numbers are on the rise too. Although sleeping pills, like Xanex, can facilitate falling asleep faster — prescription sleeping pills are risky. In the past few years, emergency rooms have seen a huge upswing in patients admitted to hospital as a result of sleeping pills. Along with an increased risk of addiction, prescription sleeping pills can come with a myriad of unpredictable side effects. These include weight gain, memory loss, decreased libido, and mood swings amongst others.
If you want to know how to fall asleep fast, being told to find a holistic sleep ritual can be a frustrating answer. Especially if you’ve gone a few nights watching your alarm clock inch closer to your wake-up time. But before you turn to your doctor for a prescription, experiment with one of these 20 science-approved tricks that can help speed up the time it takes for you to fall asleep.
