Heather Gordon, a social media health and fitness expert with 16,000 TikTok followers, recently shared a simple yet effective method to fall back asleep after waking up at night. Known as the “eye movement technique,” the method has drawn over 7 million views in just five days.
“All you need to do is move your eyes. I promise if you try it, you’ll fall asleep,” Heather stated.
The Steps
- Close your eyes.
- Move your eyeballs:
- Downward, then back to center.
- Left, back to center.
- Right, back to center.
- Upward, back to center.
- Rotate your eyes clockwise, then counterclockwise.
- Finally, focus on the bridge of your nose.
Heather recommends repeating these steps whenever you wake up during the night until you fall asleep. “I’ve never gone through more than two cycles without falling back asleep,” she said.
Public Response
The comment section of the viral video is filled with testimonials from users claiming the technique worked for them.
- One user shared: “It took me three cycles, but I started to drift off and then fell asleep.”
- Another wrote: “I tried this while watching the video and fell asleep immediately.”
- A woman commented that the method helped her sleep “longer than ever before.”
Expert Insights
Dr. Willem Gielen, a Danish cardiologist, explained that eye movements can stimulate melatonin release, a hormone essential for regulating sleep cycles. This intentional movement may activate the body’s natural sleep processes.
Research has also linked Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep phases to melatonin secretion, further underscoring the connection between eye activity and sleep regulation.
Sleep Challenges in Modern Life
Sleep deprivation is a prevalent issue in today’s society, with long-term effects such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Causes of poor sleep include stress, anxiety, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, noise, shift work, and jet lag.
Tips for Better Sleep
If you frequently struggle with sleep, consider these strategies:
- Establish a consistent bedtime.
- Stay active during the day.
- Create a quiet, comfortable sleeping environment.
The eye movement technique adds a simple, science-backed tool to help improve sleep quality.
