Getting a restful night’s sleep is essential for both physical and mental well-being. According to the NHS, good sleep helps boost your mood, reduce stress, and ease anxiety. Yet, many people struggle to achieve this vital rest consistently.
Not only is the amount of sleep important—typically seven to nine hours for adults and more for children and toddlers—but the quality of that sleep matters just as much. The NHS warns that if you constantly feel tired during the day, it’s likely you’re not getting enough sleep.
In search of solutions, people often turn to social media for practical tips. Recently, a post on X (formerly Twitter) asked for “oddly specific life tips” that go beyond generic advice. Among the popular recommendations was a technique called the “reverse blink trick,” endorsed by Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.
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The method is simple: open your eyes every 10 seconds as you try to fall asleep. Huberman explains that your brain interprets this controlled blinking pattern as a sign that you’re fighting to stay awake, which paradoxically encourages it to let go—and drift off to sleep.
The responses from social media users were enthusiastic. One shared, “I just tried doing this at my desk and almost took a quick nap.” Another exclaimed, “I’m 38, and that was an option this whole f***ing time?!” Others expressed eagerness to try the technique, with comments like, “Hope this works, I’m struggling to sleep nowadays,” and “Somewhat chronic insomniac. I will try this!”
Johns Hopkins Medicine highlights the risks of chronic poor sleep, including increased chances of dementia, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers. Poor sleep also impairs daily functioning such as work performance and driving safety.
To promote better sleep, aim for consistent, sufficient rest each night. Creating a calm, quiet, and dark bedroom environment can also enhance relaxation and improve sleep quality.