Forget the Military Sleep Method — this simple bedtime trick helps me fall asleep quickly and it’s perfect for cold weather sleep

Two feet in cozy winter socks sticking out from under the duvet on a bed.

If you aren’t familiar with the Military Sleep Method — I wasn’t — it’s a relaxation technique that’s designed to help you fall asleep faster, and was originally used by members of the US military to drop off even when under pressure, such as in a combat situation.

The method was popularized thanks to the 1981 Lloyd 'Bud' Winter book Relax and Win: Championship Performance, and there have been claims it can help you fall asleep in just two minutes, many of which you may have seen on social media, such as TikTok. However, there's a pretty big caveat to that, which we'll explain below.