Military sleep method which works for 96% of people can send you to sleep in two minutes

If you're lying there watching the clock tick towards the time you set your alarm for, then this military sleep method can help you drop off within two minutes - and it works for an impressive 96 percent of people.

The insomnia swerve is gaining traction on social media after fitness coach Justin Agustin walked his 1.9m followers through it early last year.

It's since reached 12.6m views with the caption "Technique to fall asleep in 2 minutes!" - along with the disclaimer that you'll need to practice for around six weeks to really see results.

The technique was developed by the US Army, apparently 'mainly for fighter pilots who need 100 percent of their reflexes' and for those in active combat who need to be able to fall asleep in noisy and stressful situations - perhaps even on the battlefield in order to recharge and refresh.

'Military sleep' is thought to have first been described for civilians in a 1981 book called: Relax and Win: Championship Performance, written by American track and field coach Lloyd Bud Winter.

He hoped the technique would reduce frequency of sports injuries and improving performance.

So, what do you actually have to do?

First you need to get comfy, before focussing on your breathing then slowly relaxing your entire body from the scalp down to 'shut it down' - starting with your forehead and facial features.

Make sure nothing is tense, arms are loose and to your sides and imagine a warmth spreading from you head to your fingertips.

Then you move to your chest and take a deep breath to help it relax, and then continue to the stomach, thigh, legs and feet.

The warm sensation needs to be imagined going from your heart down to your toes.

Fitness Coach Justin Agustin demonstrates the military method to falling asleep (Image: justin_agustin / TikTok)

Meanwhile, your mind needs to be cleared of any stressors - you should either imagine lying on a canoe on a clear, calm lake under blue skies, or lying in a black, velvet hammock in a pitch black room (cosy).

If your mind starts to wander, repeat: "Don't think" to yourself for ten seconds.

Agustin asks his followers to keep him posted on how they're getting on - and they certainly didn't disappoint.

One commented: “I'm a military brat and was taught this. I also had a veteran as a psychology teacher in college who taught this. It definitely works."

And another said: "Pretty sure this is closer to what is called Progressive Muscle Relaxation which was developed by an American physician in 1908."