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The sleep experts at Bed Sava claim that this military technique for falling asleep quickly and in uncomfortable, noisy environments is perfect for red-eye travellers

If you struggle to sleep on planes, then this expert hack might come in handy on your next red-eye flight. While you cannot control the cramped seating, noisy neighbours or cabin light, this hack will put falling asleep back in your command. According to sleep experts at Bed Sava, there is a tried-and-tested method used by military personnel to fall asleep quickly – even in uncomfortable, noisy environments – that translates perfectly to sleeping on planes.

Known as the “military sleep method”, this technique was supposedly first introduced in a US military manual during the Second World War to help fighter pilots fall asleep fast and in uncomfortable positions.

READ MORE: Sleep tourism is the rising travel trend for holiday-goers who love to sleep in

Today, the technique has gained mainstream popularity, particularly on social media sites like TikTok and Reddit. People have claimed they’ve been able to use the sleep-inducing hack to fall asleep easily while travelling.

Step-by-step guide to the Military Sleep Method

1. Relax your face completely – releasing tension in your forehead, cheeks, jaw and tongue
2. Drop your shoulders – allowing them to sink down along with your arms
3. Exhale and relax your chest – letting the air out slowly
4. Relax your legs – starting with your thighs, then mindfully letting your calves and feet go limp
5. Clear your mind for 10 seconds – if intrusive thoughts arise, picture a calm setting to reset your mind
6. Repeat silently to yourself: “Don’t think… don’t think…” for approximately 10 seconds

The whole process takes around two minutes. But according to the original manual, the last 10 seconds are when most people drift off. The military method supposedly works because it targets both physical tension and mental overstimulation — the two biggest blocks to falling asleep, especially on planes.

“Most people on planes stay tense without realising it — shoulders hunched, jaw clenched, legs crossed,” say sleep experts at Bed Sava. “This method focuses on deliberately releasing that tension. Once your body relaxes, the mind follows.”

If you want to increase your chances of falling asleep faster and soundly on an aeroplane, there are a few other measures you can take.

One is making sure you wear loose, comfortable clothing onboard. While you may be tempted to dress to the nines to bag an upgrade, there are more effective ways to do that than donning an uncomfortable outfit.

Another must-do is to avoid caffeine before your flight, even if it’s early and especially if you’re trying to adjust to a new time zone. Avoiding the coffee and tea on planes is also recommended because the hot water taps are less than pristine.

There are a few helpful accessories you can pack as well, to aid your inflight sleep. A neck pillow will keep your head supported and decrease muscle strain, while an eye mask and earplugs will block out cabin distractions.

Hollie Claire recently went on holiday to Greece, and fell asleep while she was sunbathing. Her tan has left people stunned as they can’t believe what happened to her

A woman who fell asleep sunbathing while on holiday has left people stunned after revealing her tan. Hollie Claire showed what her body looked like in a video as she couldn’t believe what happened to her skin after spending some time relaxing in the sun.

Known as hxllieclaire on TikTok, she said a summer tan is “not worth” spending your holiday looking patchy, so she urged people to wear plenty of factor 50 sun cream. As she spent some time relaxing by the pool in Greece, she admitted her head ended up “swelling” because she fell asleep while sunbathing and woke up looking totally different.

Over a clip, Hollie wrote: “Your reminder to apply sun cream properly and not fall asleep in the sun. Watch to the end to see how my head ended up swelling.”

As she shows off her skin in the video, you can see patches of it are really red, and she has distinct bikini mark lines too. She also has really red patches on her face from where the sun has burnt her skin.

The video has been viewed thousands of times since it’s been shared, and people couldn’t believe what happened to Hollie. Many appeared to worry that she managed to burn so badly in the sun.

One person shared their own horror story, writing: “I feel your pain. [I] used a ‘tanning oil’ along with factor 50 sunscreen, and I thought I would be fine. I’ve now spent three days of my holiday with second-degree sunburn and blisters on my shoulders and chest. Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. Hope you feel better soon.”

Another added: “Girls, don’t forget to use sunscreen on your scalp too, especially if you have fair/thinner hair.” A third replied: “Oh god, stay cool and drink plenty of water. Hope you feel better soon.”

Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “Hope you’re ok. That looks so painful.” Someone else also chimed in with: “Girl, please go to the doctor. Swelling is not good.”

According to Hollie’s other videos, she jetted off to Greece on holidays. She admitted she “learnt her lesson” in the comments, and thanked people for their advice and support.

When it comes to protecting your skin in the sun, the NHS advises: “Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy.

“There’s no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun’s harmful effects. Aim to strike a balance between protecting yourself from the sun and getting enough vitamin D from sunlight.

“Spend time in the shade when the sun is strongest. In the UK, this is between 11am and 3pm from March to October.”

When the weather is really warm, people are advised to spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, never burn, cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses, take extra care with children and use at least factor 30 sunscreen.

You shouldn’t rely on sunscreen alone to protect your skin from the sun. The NHS says it’s important to wear suitable clothing, and to spend plenty of time in the shade when the sun’s at its hottest.

When buying sunscreen, the label should have:

• A sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect against UVB
• At least 4-star UVA protection

The NHS adds: “UVA protection can also be indicated by the letters ‘UVA’ in a circle, which indicates that it meets the EU standard. Make sure the sunscreen is not past its expiry date. Do not spend any longer in the sun than you would without sunscreen.”