Look at the time, and you're still not asleep. Does it feel like the more you tell yourself to relax and close your eyes, to drift off, the less you're able to do any of those things? Insomnia, sleeplessness, wakefulness, whatever you want to call it, they all mean the same thing. Frustration. Now imagine trying to sleep in active combat, in discomfort, in bright light, with noise. Sleeping under those conditions would definitely be concerning. It certainly was for the army. That's why they developed the military method of sleep. And tonight, we'll teach it to you. I'm Suzanne, and this is your ticket to Snoozeville. Before we start, please ensure that you are somewhere safe to fall asleep. And if you find this episode helpful, please consider following or subscribing. We have two episodes each week devoted to nothing but finding ways to help you sleep. Sleep has always been a critical concern in military operations. During World War II, studies revealed that soldiers were averaging just four to six hours of sleep, with many experiencing even less during intense combat periods. The military discovered that this chronic sleep deprivation wasn't just making troops tired, it was affecting every aspect of their performance.Decision-making became impaired, reaction times slowed, and accident rates increased dramatically. This was particularly concerning for pilots, whose split-second decisions meant the difference between life and death. The combination of irregular schedules, combat stress, and the constant drone of aircraft engines created a perfect storm of sleeplessness. Military leaders realized they needed to find a solution. Working with hundreds of pilots, they developed and refined a method so effective that after six weeks of practice, 96% of pilots could fall asleep within two minutes. These pilots could find rest in cockpits on carriers with the sound of war all around them. If they could find sleep in those conditions, imagine how effective this method can be in your quiet bedroom, in your comfortable bed. Let's start the practice together. First, get as comfortable as you can. The military method starts with complete physical relaxation before moving to mental relaxation. And that order is important because no matter how calm your mind might be, tension in your body can keep you awake. Let's start with your face. Focus on your forehead. Let it soften completely. Feel any tension there melting away. And now your eyebrows. Let them relax. Your eyes.Let them rest easily in their sockets and feel how heavy your eyelids have become. Release any tension around your eyes. Move to your cheeks.Let them become soft and heavy. Your jaw. Let it fall slightly open. Release any tension you might be holding there. Your tongue. Let it relax in your mouth. You might notice it naturally falling away from the roof of your mouth. Now your shoulders. Let them drop completely.Feel how they sink into the bed beneath you. Your right arm. Let it become heavy and soft.Your upper arm. Your elbow. Your forearm.Your wrist. Your hand. And your fingers.Each part becoming completely relaxed. Your left arm now. The same peaceful heaviness spreads through your upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers.Both arms are now completely relaxed. Take a deep breath in. And as you exhale, feel your chest relaxing.Feel the gentle rise and fall of your breathing. With each breath, you sink a little deeper into relaxation. Move your attention to your legs. And start with your right thigh. Let it become heavy and soft. Your right knee. Calf. Ankle. Your foot.And your toes. Each part slowly surrendering to gravity. Your left leg now.Your thigh becomes heavy. Your knee relaxing. Your calf.Ankle. Your foot. And your toes.Feel how your entire body has become heavy and so relaxed. Now for the mental relaxation. For this part, just as the original military method teaches, quietly repeat the words, don't think, to yourself.Don't think. Don't think. Don't think. Let these words become a gentle rhythm that helps clear your mind of all other thoughts. Now that you've experienced the military sleep method, notice your breathing. Feel the natural rhythm of each inhale and exhale.When thoughts arise, and they will, simply observe them like clouds passing across the sky. You don't need to chase them or hold on to them. Just watch them drift by as you return your attention to your breath.Each breath brings you deeper into relaxation. Each exhale carries you closer to sleep. Your body is completely relaxed now.Your mind is clearing. You've learned a technique that helped pilots find rest in the midst of war. In your peaceful bedroom.In your comfortable bed. Sleep will come even more easily. Continue breathing slowly and deeply.In the morning, you don't have to get up at sunrise for PT or practice drills, but you have your own challenges. And you'll meet them even without a full eight-hour sleep. Even with a lot less, you may feel tired and your thinking may be a little fuzzy.But it won't be the end of the world. Don't get too anxious about it. That's called sleep anxiety.And that makes sleeplessness even worse. Let yourself drift now. There's nothing else you need to do.No problems to solve. No plans to make. Let sleep come in its own time.Relax. You will be fine. You'll sleep again. Just enjoy being at rest. Being warm. Being safe.Being relaxed. You're giving your body the rest it needs. And sleep will come to you in its own time.Sleep now. Sleep deeply. Sleep well.