The military method
Relax your legs, thighs, and calves. Clear your mind for 10 seconds by imagining a relaxing scene. If this doesn't work, try saying the words “don't think” over and over for 10 seconds. Within 10 seconds, you should fall asleep!
What is the Navy SEAL Sleep Technique? “The Navy SEAL Sleep Technique involves laying the back on the floor at the edge of the bed and then putting the legs on the bed,” Dr. Hsu begins. “This puts the sleeper in a position similar to the letter Z, but with the laps stretching a bit onto the bed.
This military sleep method was used by World War II soldiers to fall asleep within two minutes. Here's how it works: Start by relaxing your entire face, including your foreheads, eyelids, jaw, and tongue. Drop your shoulders and then your hands, letting them fall to either side of your body.
"Relax your eyes, your cheeks, your jaw and focus on your breathing. Now go down to your neck and your shoulders. "Make sure your shoulders are not tensed up. Drop them as low as you can and keep your arms loose by your side, including your hands and fingers."
Close your mouth and quietly inhale through your nose to a mental count of four. Hold your breath for a count of seven. Exhale through your mouth, making a whoosh sound for a count of eight. Repeat the process three more times for a total of four breath cycles.
Drop your shoulders and hands.
Relax your neck, your traps; feel yourself sinking into the chair or bed. Then start at the top of your right arm, and slowly relax your biceps, forearms, and hands. Repeat on the other side. And don't forget to keep breathing slowly and deeply.
On the legitimacy of the 8-minute nap, he says “sleeping with your legs elevated can help improve sleep onset and quality as it allows blood to flow more easily throughout the body. This is the sleep science behind the 8-minute Navy Seal nap, but that's not the only thing that makes this nap potentially effective.”
According to the US military, it works on 96% of individuals who give it a try, and there are a lot of comments on the original TikTok that claim success with it. Some journalists have also reported sound sleep after giving it a try.
Taking an eight-minute nap during the day, as recommended by a retired US Navy Seal. According to former Navy Seal Jocko Willink (great name), eight minutes is the ideal nap time: you wake up rested, without feeling groggy.
How do Navy SEALs handle 5 days and nights of Hell Week without sleep? Navy SEAL Hell Week is a five-and-a-half day stretch in which candidates sleep only about four total hours, run more than 200 miles and do physical training for more than 20 hours per day.
Most Soldiers report sleeping 6 to 7 hours per night, regardless of duty status. However, nearly 1 in 3 report getting less than 6 hours of sleep on weeknights/duty nights. Soldiers also report getting more sleep on weekend/non-duty nights than on weeknights/duty nights.
Soldiers require 7 to 8 hours of good quality sleep every 24-hour period to sustain operational readiness. Soldiers who lose sleep will accumulate a sleep debt over time that will seriously impair their performance.
3 hours before bed: No more food or alcohol. 2 hours before bed: No more work. 1 hour before bed: No more screen time (shut off all phones, TVs and computers). 0: The number of times you'll need to hit snooze in the AM.
A power nap (the Navy SEAL version with your legs elevated, or a more typical lying-down-flat version) can definitely be beneficial if you find yourself drowsy during the day, but don't use it as a substitute for getting the nighttime sleep you need on a regular basis.
Narcolepsy is characterized by sleep attacks, which is when excessive sleepiness comes out of nowhere and can result in you falling asleep instantly, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
Bangin' energy drinks
But in most cases, deployed troops just don't sip a single energy drink — they take it to a whole new level by chugging multiple cans of the all mighty Rip-it. Splashing water on your face works well too — but that's no fun.
Navy SEAL pre-training requirements include: Push-ups in 2 minutes: 42 minimum, 100 optimum. Sit-ups in 2 minutes: 52 minimum, 100 optimum. Pull-ups (no time limit): 8 minimum, 20 optimum.