In the UK, the clocks go back this Sunday 31 October. While it's all well and good to enjoy that extra hour in bed on Sunday morning, in reality the time change can mess up your sleep patterns, leaving you feeling jet lagged for up to a week. While the clocks change instantly, your internal body clock takes a lot longer to catch up.
We spoke to a sleep expert about exactly why this is the case, and their pro tips for dealing with it, but if you're after some more quick-fix tricks, where better to look than TikTok? Here are five hacks, including one ultra-popular, soothing ASMR video, that could help you drop off and get your body clock in line quicker, compiled courtesy of Love Hemp (opens in new tab).
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1. Watch this video
ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) is a tingling sensation in the head or neck that can be brought on by a range of auditory or visual triggers. It can be relaxing or – in this writer's case – nausea-inducing. Assuming you're part of the first group, this POV video of TikToker Josie B 'aggressively applying your makeup' could be just the thing to help lull you to sleep. It's got 44M likes, so if you're into ASMR, this might be your Holy Grail.
@jociebasmr (opens in new tab) doing ur fast & aggressive makeup 🌻 ##asmr ##asmrmakeup ##springvibes
♬ original sound - Tik Toker (opens in new tab)
2. Put some socks on
ASMR not doing it for you? Here's another easy one: pop some socks on. In her viral TikTok video, which has 3.6m views and counting, pediatrics resident Dr Jess Andrade explains that people who wear socks to bed drop off quicker. That's because socks warm your feet up, which in turn causes your body to cool down, helping signal that it's time for sleep.
@doctorjesss (opens in new tab) I wear socks to bed so don’t come at me im not weird
♬ presleywalker - PresleyWalker (opens in new tab)
3. Slow your heart rate with breathing techniques
Dr Michael Bruce calls himself The Sleep Doctor, and presents this hack whilst lying in bed to really underline the point. His tip is to employ relaxing breathing exercises to help calm your body and lower your heart rate. The 4-7-8 technique involves breathing in for a count of 4, holding your breath for a count of 7, then breathing out for 8.
@thesleepdoctor (opens in new tab) Having a hard time falling back to sleep? Try the 4-7-8 breathing technique. ##sleeptok ##sleeptips ##insomnia ##breathingexercises ##insomniatok ##fypシ
♬ original sound - The Sleep Doctor (opens in new tab)
4. Eat a snack before bed
This one's for anyone who finds themselves consistently waking up at 3am or 4am. Tiktok health coach Andy Jay says it's because your body is running out of glucose to use for energy, which sets off a chain reaction that causes your melatonin levels to drop, waking you up. To avoid a rude awakening in the wee small hours, Andy suggests having a snack that has both fat and sugar in it just before going to bed. He likes cheese and honey, which is pretty weird, but each to their own, we guess.
@andyjayhealth (opens in new tab) Try this - ##healthcoach ##healthylifestyle ##nutritionist ##sleeptips ##insomnia
♬ Say So (Instrumental Version) [Originally Performed by Doja Cat] - Elliot Van Coup (opens in new tab)
5. Limit the light
Our final hack pretty well known, but worth reiterating. Another popular TikTok tip from Dr Jess Andrade, this trick is to remove as much light as possible from your room when going to bed. Light from laptops and phone screens affects your body's melatonin production, which in turn impacts your circadian rhythm. Get your bedroom as dark as possible for a better night's sleep.
@doctorjesss (opens in new tab) Who uses a night light in their room? Those are ok if you need them ##learnontiktok ##tiktokpartner
♬ original sound - Doctor Jess Andrade (opens in new tab)
