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Getting a good night’s sleep has a positive impact on your overall health and wellbeing – and, according to the NHS, “the mental health benefits of good sleep include boosting our mood, reducing stress and helping with anxiety”.

But unfortunately, for many people, getting enough sleep every night is a regular battle. It’s not just the number of hours of shut eye that counts but also the quality of them.

The NHS states “everyone needs different amounts of sleep” but, on average, adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night, children need nine to 13 hours per night, and toddlers and babies need 12 to 17 hours.

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The health organisation cautions: “You probably do not get enough sleep if you’re constantly tired during the day.”

This can make tossing and turning all that more stressful, with many turning to social media looking for tips and tricks to help them fall asleep faster and for longer.

On X, one person was on the quest for a certain kind of “life tip”. They posted: “I’m 23. Give me oddly specific life tips. No general ‘surround yourself with positive people’ tips. I want the most random, specific advice possible.”

One of the most popular replies referred to the “reverse blink trick”, a method backed by neuroscientist and associate professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Andrew Huberman.

The response states: “If you’re struggling to sleep, try the reverse blink trick, open your eyes every 10 seconds. Your brain sees it as you trying to stay awake and wants to give up (fall asleep)”.

In the comments section, fellow social media users were keen to share their thoughts. One person said: “I just tried doing this at my desk and almost took a quick nap”.

Another said: “I’M 38 AND THAT WAS AN OPTION THIS WHOLE F***ING TIME???” A third said: “I’ve never heard of this, I’m definitely trying it [tonight]”.

Someone else commented: “Hope this works man, struggling to sleep nowadays”. Another shared: “Somewhat chronic insomniac. I will try this!”

And another added: “I’ve never heard of this one before. Good one”.

John Hopkins Medicine states: “Chronic poor sleep may increase the likelihood of developing dementia, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and even cancers of the breast, colon, ovaries and prostate.

“Poor sleep can also affect the ability to function while performing daily tasks like working or driving.”

It’s important to try and ensure you get enough sleep consistently each night. Keeping your bedroom a calm, quiet, dark place can help put you in a relaxed frame of mind and make achieving this a little easier.