According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults simply don’t get enough sleep.
If you’re an avid TikTok user, you may be aware of recent sleep-related trends such as bed rotting and mouth taping. But these social media trends aren’t always the answer to your slumber woes. So, which TikTok trends are the ones that will actually help you sleep?
For those in need of a good night’s kip, the experts at HAYPP havefound the TikTok tips and hacks actually worth listening to, and the science behind why they work.
Acupuncture pressure (58.8 million TikTok views)
The Anmian, also known as the peaceful sleep acupuncture point, can be found 1cm right behind the middle of your ears. The hack was made popular by Dr. Eileen (@anew.acu). For about a minute, apply gentle pressure behind both ears with your thumb while laying on your back.
What’s the science behind this helpful hack? Apparently, acupuncture pressure aims to help any blockages, disruptions, and imbalances in energy flow, addressing complaints such as pain or difficulty sleeping.
A study of 25 patients with sleep disorders showed that 60 percent experienced higher quality sleep within the first 10 days of acupressure treatment. Fourteen patients in the study also had cancer. Of these, 79 percent experienced improved sleep quality after acupressure treatment.
Tart cherry juice (28.2 million TikTok views)
Tart cherry juice, also known on TikTok as the sleepy girl mocktail, is a simple concoction of magnesium, prebiotic soda, and tart cherry juice, made popular when wellness influencer Gracie Norton claimed it gave her the best sleep of her life. Not only can tart cherry juice improve sleep due to its tryptophan (an amino acid that increases production of melatonin, which can help induce sleep), but also help reduce stress, assist in weight loss, and hydration. There are some experts, however, who say this is not the healthiest way to get a good night’s sleep, due to the high sugar levels, and say there are better alternatives.
Cricket feet (21.4 million TikTok views)
You might want to give your feet some extra love at night, according to this TikTok trend. Made popular by the content creator @notyouraveragethrpst, cricket feet involves rubbing your feet together to soothe yourself to sleep and make you feel extra comfy.
According toDr. Eileen, our feet are packed with nerve endings and pressure points that are calmed when stimulated. Self-stimulation movements such as cricket feet, knee bouncing, putting a hand on your heart or cheek, or stroking your arm can increase a sense of calm, reducing levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), which should assist you in a better night’s sleep.
Cognitive Shuffling (6.9 million TikTok views)
This one is for the overthinkers of the world, whose brains won’t quite switch off before bedtime. The trend, introduced by TikTok creator @joelchesters, came from a tip given to him by an Oxford professor. It involves listing random things in your mind for an extended period of time while you try to sleep. The more random the better, as the hack claims to get you to fall asleep in five minutes or fewer, as the thoughts trick the brain’s sleep regulators into feeling groggy and ready for sleep, distracting you from any worries or usual overthinking before lights out.
Drunken monkeys (955.5k TikTok views)
This popular hack, originally shared by usamedical, has thousands testifying to its positive effects. The drunken monkey includes moving your weight from side to side on your hips, rolling your shoulders back, and flapping your arms about (like a monkey who’s had one too many). The trend recommends doing these drunken-like moves for about a minute before bed to increase blood flow, which will, in turn, help you relax and release any pent-up stress.
Movement of the limbs to get better sleep have prompted science-approved sleep-hack suggestions for some time, in the form of yoga, tai chi and more. In fact, a clinical review performed by Guang’an Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences reported that low-intensity physical and cognitive activity significantly improved sleep quality in adults.
Why is getting quality sleep important?
Quality sleep is essential for your overall health and wellbeing, and a good sleep schedule will improve your cognitive function, emotional regulation, repairing of tissues, and regulating hormones. Poor sleep quality has been linked with decreased immune function, mood disturbances, and an increased risk of developing chronic health conditions. While the occasional sleepless night is normal, talk to your doctor for more advice if you regularly have difficulty falling or staying asleep.