I swear its getting smarter and smarter lol it either makes sense like this, or its those mindless pointless videos that keep you up for no good reason😂
Broken Joe It’s observation. The notion that there are too many school hours or that too much homework is set is laughable in the face of the fact that it’s not uncommon for teens to be gaming til past midnight on a school day.
Biggus Dickus Have to agree. I just finished high school and gotta say for the most times I had my full 8 hours of sleep during these 4 years the exception being those times I spent on my phone for too long or playing videogames for too long.
As a lifelong insomniac, I find this 'tool' to be quite effective. It doesn't always work, especially if I am more preoccupied than usual, but it is one of the most effective methods I have ever tried. Thank you!
@@chessman19 Yes, I usually do it in bed by tapping my shoulders in a 'self hug' position. I also sometimes sit on the edge of the bed and tap my legs like he did in the video. It really does calm the mind.
Literally every health organization in the world: “people need, on average, 7-8 hours of sleep to be healthy.” Highschools and colleges: “I’m gonna pretend I didn’t see that.”
@@thomasoliva1 I'm in my 50's and could count on one hand how many times I've slept over 7 hours in a night in the past 5 years. However, I sleep great and fall asleep easy.
I watched this video for the first time about a month ago. I must admit that this technique works! I used to have really bad insomnia, about 4-5 hours a sleep on average. But this really does shutdown my system and I’m able to get on average now 7 hours of restful sleep. Thank you for sharing this, changed my life
@@shimaya2412 Yes Ive been using it for 3 years and it still works, the downside is that it was so effective for me that once I got adjusted to it I cannot go back to normal laying down and trying to sleep, I have to rely on this but it still helps me sleep faster than I normally would
Someone said he felt bad because his jokes were not funny, and he felt bad. First, don't feel bad he was good enough to get on TED. Second, nobody laughed because everyone fell asleep. I know... this wasn't funny either.
Omg this worked first try!!! I just slept for 7hrs and 45 mins. I woke up by myself and it only took a few mins to drift off - I don’t even remember getting to slow down the tapping. I laid down and crossed my arms and tapped them. This is life changing for me! I have been a insomniac going on 15 years now. I just can’t believe how easy it was to hack my brain.
Hack might not be the best terminology. Another commenter suggested this pattern is like what is done with babies. We rock them to sleep because it is rhythmic pattern like the video said. The same concept in a different way can be applied to us, and I found that amazing!
10 years of never being able to sleep without help, where I have heavily relied on watching youtube or movies til I drop, or reading books to sleep, where even with these methods there's no assurance I'll be able to sleep. Important events that I needed sleep for but ended up sleeping very late because my mind won't let me. Sleep should be rest and not feel like heavy work. I've tried so much methods, I've tried sleeping early but eventually got to sleep at 3 or 4 AM, I've tried not moving for 15 mins., music therapy, ASMR, doing a light activity before sleeping, drinking milk or water before sleep, keeping my mind at peace while eyes are shut, hypnosis videos which I've watched til dawn but never worked, and a whole lot that I can't even remember in this 10 years of sleep deprivation but to no avail. Even with my partner to cuddle I couldn't sleep without a youtube session to drop me. I already gave up trying at this point. Then one day this video randomly appeared while watching Ted vids. For one night I dropped my reliance to watching youtube videos for sleep, I studied what he did then tried it. Next thing I knew, it's morning. I couldn't believe it worked so tried it again for 4 days straight and it still worked with no problems, I even woke up easily at 5AM at times on my own, without feeling groggy. So to Jim Donovan, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and for the 10 years of pain that I still couldn't believe you've cured. Because of you I can see myself having years of healthy sleep. And because of you...I can finally drop those late night cereals for good.
To those who couldn't make this work, keep the normal pace for a while until you can feel your mind getting baited by this ticking sensation, to what your fiingers are doing. A few minutes after, slow the pace then either let your fingers drop by itself, or drop it when your mind enters a moderately deep, somewhat imaginative state. After which, you let your mind go with the flow of thoughts.
@@xMrJanuaryx I don't even know whose dreams I'm in, it's definitely not mine, mine always have diansours and I've usually wet myself, but in this one I'm on UA-cam, typing up comments and stuff.
I came here to say a big thank you. I watched this video about a year ago and I thought it was a useless piece of joke. But, as a life long insomniac, I finally gave it a try. But, I tried a modified version of yours. I touched my thumb and index finger very quietly while lying down to sleep. I did both left and right hands alternating while slowly breathing as you said and focusing on these fingers only. And IT WORKED!!! Big thank you sir!!!
Yes it definiteley doesn't matter where you touch or even you can just move a part of your body (I usually move my toe), as long as you do the slowing down, this trick almost always work, I'm very thankful, too.
For those after precise information: It's manipulating rhythm. For instance when you unconsciously start rhythmically moving a body part relative to the beat when you hear a great song that's called frequency following response. FFR relaxes your mind from erratically jumping to new ideas or thoughts and grounds them to pattern occurring. This relaxes you helping you calm down for sleep. Lying down gently tap your thighs with your hands like a ticking clock: left, right, left, right... gently. Do this for as long as it takes while taking, deep, relaxing breaths. Progressively get slower and slower as you pay attention to how relaxed and comfortable you feel while just focusing on the rhythm of your taps. Be calm, relaxed as it can take up to 3 or more minutes to drift into slumber. Sweet dreams
I use a clock - counting in sets of four- Have done so for years as i accidentally figured this out for myself, (hint sometimes your mind will start to wonder away and start the "why is grass green/is the oven left on/why would you put pineapple on a pizza" routine but as soon as you catch on you have stopped counting the rhythm just re-start the process)
Thank God there's still people like you making useful and smart comments instead of re-using the same joke again and again because they're desperate for likes
I watched this at 1a.m. because I couldn't fall asleep after being tired all day. I went into a comfortable sleeping position and started tapping and deep breathing. It took me about 25 minutes to actually fall asleep, but it instantly relaxed me, and I could tell it was going to work--It did! I will be doing this again tonight and in the future because I frequently have insomnia.
Well we can safely assume that no one does homework until 1 am and then gets only 4 hours of sleep. The problem is that many high schoolers have terrible time management and do the homework and other assignments last minute, if at all.
Honestly unless you do a huge number of extracurriculars or several ap classes, most students can get 8 hours of sleep 95% of the time if they have proper time management.
Why’s it the education department’s fault? In full AP classes and my schools sports team I still had 4+ hours a day after my hw and athletics to play video games... and that’s from moseying through the hw. Just be efficient when you work and put distractions away when it’s time to sleep. Schools aren’t responsible for up it personal life
I cannot believe how this video became so critical for my sleep habits, Jim Donovan, you deserve a big big applause from everyone. Thanks to Jim's tip, I managed to shorten my falling into sleep time into barely few minutes.
@@JimDonovanSoundHealthman so many people I can attribute to my virtues, which I believe God providentially placed in front of me. I’m so glad God gave you this revelation to share with others. You inspire me to now share it with everyone else and this video. Huge thankfulness from the bottom of my heart. Got sleepy after trying, can’t wait till trying tonight!
I remember trying this ages ago. It worked so well that I ended up forgetting that sleep had ever been a problem....until it became a problem again! Somehow I didn't remember this solution until I happened across it again recently and....BINGO! It still works beautifully! Falling asleep quickly and staying asleep ALL night (let me say that again. ALL NIGHT!!) Thank you Jim Donovan!
@@warlord5488 I lay on my back and tap my thighs lightly with a quick beat while I breath in and out slowly to the count of 4 or 5 until - like the video shows - the tapping becomes slower...and slower...and slower to match my breathing until it eventually stops and I am asleep.
This was insane. When i opened my eyes i felt frozen, so calm, like i could barely move. Its like a powerful form of meditation. Thank you, this has really changed my life and is a very helpful thing that everyone can try. It really works!
I can’t express, how thankful I’m to this guy. I wish I’ve seen this video years ago. It really works if you do it do it right. I actually tried it with my fingers only instead of palms and it worked out ok. I have my sleep back. Thank you so much, this method should be taught in school !!!
flying cacoon Many of us have a deep-seated resistance to installing habits intentionally. It’s like we dare ourselves to MAKE US do anything we don’t HAVE TO do. It’s like we’re still petulant children but the grown-up we’re resisting is ourselves. Give yourself permission to do what works for you.
Wow! I fell asleep right after I tapped the first time, woke up in the very early morning to pee, tapped again and then woke up a bit after 9am! I never sleep until 9am, ever! It's wonderful to see how humans can help each other. If we could just move out of the resistance and rigidity of our often mistaken beliefs and conclusions and instead share what we know with each other, we could literally help each other to become more. And our planet would blossom as a place for everyone to become more! Thank you Jim for your expertise and willingness to share what you know in such an effective manner.
The trick, start at 8:10: tap on your legs like a slow metronome and breathe in and out on 4 counts, then slow that metronome down for some repetitions. It's like rocking yourself to sleep.
@@Faith2liveby yes it did, for me at least, you have to be willing to try. Hard at first but you just need to concentrate on the breathing and counting while tapping. I did the tapping with my index fingers on my chest while lying down inhale (1and2and3and4and) exhale (1and2and3and4and) clear your mind by concentrating on the counting and breathing over and over again. I don't know when I went to sleep by my fitbit said that I slept 6 1/2 hrs and that hasn't happeded in a while.
I've always felt that a great night's sleep is equivalent to the best medicine that you could ever get ahold of so I think what this guy has to say is more important then just about anything else I can think of.
I'll be darned, this worked for me, though my brain still fought and I had to do this 3 or 4 times, I ended falling asleep in probably 15 to 20 minutes as opposed to staring at cieling with my mind racing for 1 to 3 hours. Thank you!
CBD ver low THC helps me for sleep and seizures. Getting over the feeling of impending doom. Healing thru therapy from ptsd. Don’t stop searching. It’s taken me 40 years. I don’t know how I made it. Pure will and Gods strength. I’m happier than ever
And extending their life no sleep can kill , insomnia is slow torture personal experience 😶 after a few days with no sleep, seeing shadows from the corner of your eyes, becoming delirious, it's terrible. I've always been an insomniac as a kid I'd always get in trouble bc I wouldn't be able to sleep until the sun starts to rise, I'm 37 and it's almost 6a.m. right now and I have been awake going on 2 days now even after smoking some really Stony bud , that's why I have a playlist I add to every day called sleep list, I have favorite narrators if true crime etc and their voices definitely have been helping me fall asleep for the last 4ish years
@@thearmchairjournalist566, I've actually forgotten about this with everything that's gone on this year. Thank you so much for asking. It did help for the few days I practiced it...that's all I know. I also know I am going to do this again tonight. Again, thank you for bringing this back to my attention.
@@thearmchairjournalist566 , I am also wild gooseberry...so it was me who replied last year. I'm using meditation music along with this and it's working very well. :)
This is an amazing technic. After my time in the military, for years it took me well over an hour fall asleep... and it was really light sleep... but i found this video and tried and changed my life. I alternate tapping the tips of my finger and counting to 100 and back... and im passed out all night. Thank you
I tried it a year ago when I was really anxious and had trouble sleepign and it didn't work but I didn't try it that many times and I was worried that I wasn't doign it right. I tried it recently and wow it knocked me out after about 3-4 minutes of it. Don't give up so easily. Thank you Jim.
I'm a father of 7, and this is how I've always put my babies to sleep. Rhythmic patting and swaying, then when you can tell they are focusing on the pattern, slow it down. Soften the pats and slow the swaying. Works almost every time. If it doesn't, then I find a way to disrupt their thinking, and try again. Crying a bit alone is okay. I hope this helps someone. This talk was genius. I'm going to make a story, like Lion Hunt, and hypnotize my kids to sleeping.
That sounds like a great idea, I could recommend - wait, you have *7* kids?? Whoa. Respect dude, your household must be unimaginably busy! (in a good way)
You sound like an amazing Dad. :) Thanks for the comment Jared. I did the same thing when my 3 were little. I think we're born with the tendency to use rhythm to soothe the little ones. I'd be into hearing that story !
I've tried it so many times along the years and I can say, it doesn't matter whether you're sitting or lying down or where you touch; you can even just move a part of your body (I usually move my toe), as long as you do the slowing down, this trick almost always work, I'm very thankful.
I tried this during the day and I discovered that I started yawning straight away. me and my wife were laughing, it definitely works. I have chronic Insomnia for 15 years I have been using white noise lately I suppose that works in the same way. This is something you can easily do every single night no harm done good luck everyone
After trying the exercise, i thought it didn't work. But then he said "notice how your mind feels". And wow, i actually felt lighter. Thank you, i'm definitely calling my friend tonight to get more sleep !
Until I saw this video I can count on one hand the # of nights I slept solid all night. My sleep would best be described as a bunch of "mini-naps". In bed by 10:30, finally fall asleep at some point awake by 2:30. Then it was asleep again for another hour/ hour and a half, repeating this cycle. Well last night was night 5 of trying this technique of the rhythmic pattern and I have slept straight through all 5 nights. Thank you for this video.
I have a hard time falling asleep. I doubted that this method would work for me but I tried it anyway. Holy Cow! It really does work! I don’t do the exercise while sitting on the edge of my bed, I do it once settled in bed. It has worked for me every time I’ve tried it over the last 4 nights. Wow!
It really does puts one at ease to welcome sleep. I did the exercise while he was talking, and I’m surprised how my brain relaxed me. And he’s right, I go to bed and can’t sleep because I’m thinking too much.
I just got the best night’s sleep of my life, thanks to this ‘trick!’ I don’t remember a night when I slept for eight hours without waking up. This is an answer to prayer.
The last time for me was when I had dental surgery in March and they gave me Vicodin. I finished the whole bottle, one pill every night for 10 days and slept each of those nights straight through. But of course you can't stay on that drug forever
Best thing for me is to imagine re-arranging my room. It gets the brain in an imaginative state, like the dream state. Try painting walls in your mind, organizing a closet, putting an outfit together, just imagine it.
I have done similar highly focused attention to detail imaginations which cause me to have sleep paralisis. The scarest most intense senations so real i can not say if it was a dream or real. That is something I have always wanted to teach people
I dont understand insomnia and people who have it. If you’re tired, just sleep no? I mean I dont get much sleep personally, maybe 5h a night during the week, but I just dont feel tired that much. If one night I’m not tired or for whatever reason I only get 2-3 hours the next night obviously I’m gonna be tired so I’ll go to sleep a lot earlier. Idk just seems weird to me that you can just not fall asleep even though you’re exhausted.
@@blanco7726 Problem is that some people struggle to stay awake during the day and are fully awake at night. And they cannot change that. Some hypothesis is that they were supposed to defend the "tribe" during the prehistoric nights.
xrayban2 that doesn’t make sense, since that would mean most people who work night shifts would have difficulties staying up at night when theyre working, because not everyone was defending the tribe back then. Also what helps against falling asleep in the day 1. Doing stuff outside 2. Energy drinks
Million thanks for your talk and comprehensive explanations! As a Hong Kong citizen, puzzled and saddened by the current happenings , your talk helps me a lot. Again! MILLION THANKS ! MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
@@JimDonovanSoundHealth You are a Genius for this, the technique should actually be named after you and posted in the Scientific Journal. This has changed my life, thank you so much for this gift. God Bless 🙏🏽
Jim Donovan THANK YOU - this is BRILLIANT! When I first tried it, I soon realized standing/sitting up would not work at all... so I did the obvious = got into bed, lights out, snuggled into blankets. I also made a major modification to your technique - no big movements of whole hands required - the tiniest movement of one finger tapping a pillow/blanket was plenty enough, as the physical component, to accompamy the mental component. As the proud owner of "Busy Brain" [useful when working, but not sleeping!] this is what I think happens: this tiny movement, synced with breathing - in practice, this is several tiny movements per breath, but in sync - these TWO focal aspects are just enough to kinda "pass by" Busy Brain. For some of us, any meditation-like practice - that uses just one pattern - breathing - simply isn't enough, it's too easy to fall off track, for thoughts to interrupt! Which has been a great puzzle for years - if it works for others, why not me? Because ONE pattern is not enough. This is basically adding a second pattern [tapping] that flows WITH the first pattern [breath] => occupies most/enough of the "attention" so hyped in meditation practice. Kinda tricks the brain: "Hey feel this - then feel this too." Good Night Busy Brain! Brilliantly simple. Who would have thunk it.
This technique has worked for me when I'm too anxious to sleep. Last night my granddaughter stayed over night. She was overly tired so l did the exercise with her and she soon was able to relax and sleep!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Sounds like a great idea. I literally DID get tired doing this exercise, could feel the sense of slumber start to pour down from the top of my skull. So I had to stop, fearing I would fall asleep doing this exercise. I will try this tonite. BTW, I've tried many things but for most people, including myself, it really is getting control of your own thoughts and putting them to rest. Jim's description of the problem of falling and staying asleep is as close a description I've ever heard to my own problem.
I am actually able to do this just tapping a single finger on each of my shoulders (I "hug" myself to go to sleep) while I am already lying down in bed. It doesn't disturb my husband and it has never failed to work! Thank you soooo much for sharing this
As someone with a history of chronic anxiety, I can say with certainty that this does in fact work. Even if it is just to calm the brain down, it helps a great deal. Thanks Jim Donovan!
My wife of 48 years has trouble sleeping every night. She is not a dye hard music lover like me. I have several songs that I really love and have them memorized. Almost every night I will start singing one in my mind. I have been doing this for years. Unless I am sick, I can't ever remember finishing a song to the end.
This makes sense. I've been an insomniac for over 50 years. I also spent as much time as I possibly could in my younger years on horseback. One of the few things that has occasionally worked to help me fall asleep is to imagine myself riding a horse at a steady walk. It's a nice rhythmic four-beat gait. Now, if I can just stop thinking about the scenery on our ride, the horse's markings, the imaginary weather...
hopefully you can get yourself some sleep! i've been and insomniac for 6 years, and sometimes i have worse times and sometimes i have periods where i fall asleep in 20 minutes. good luck to you, i just try to go to bed and wake up at the same time, even during weekends
Ikr! I tried a method for falling asleep where you imagine you're laying down in a boat on calm water on a warm sunny day, and I couldn't stop thinking about if a water snake might jump in the boat!
To my amazement, I got sleepy just watching him and breathing as he did while relaxing. As a lifelong insomniac, I can only say, Wow. Thank you so much!
My brother, as a kid, used to rhythmically roll his head back and forth till he fell asleep. Any kind of rhythmic action can probably do this magical trick!
I’ve been using the red light for the last couple of days and only been waking up a couple times through the night and actually been able to go back to sleep . Normally I would wake up and I couldn’t go back to sleep but I’m gonna try his technique and hopefully I can sleep all night I almost fell asleep just do his exercise and it is already morning😀
Ive been on sleeping pills for three months and now weaning off experiencing rebound insomnia. Was so grateful to see this video come across my screen. I will definitely be trying this tonight and I will report back. Felt very relaxed after doing the practice run. ❤❤
10:05 when he says two double tap to rewind 10 seconds. if you keep rewinding 10 seconds he will say 2 perfectly in time with it every time. amazing rhythm
I do something very similar to this when experiencing sensory overload, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, or just stress in general. It helps me slow my heartrate down and gives me something to focus on.
I’ve tried this a few times now and it works! Sometimes I’ll wake up at 3:00 AM with my mind racing over something or other. This exercise diverts the focus and the next thing I know, it’s morning! You can pay a ton of money for sleep therapy or try this. It works!
Me, can’t sleep: *sees it’s 3am *watches 13 minute video on how to go to sleep *finishes video *enjoyed video, very educational *watches more videos, very interesting
Yeah, I definitely can't sleep because too many things are too interesting to sleep through. We need to learn that no one can actually experience it all, and -- literally give it a rest.
Humanoid I’ve been under a lot of stress and THIS WORKED FOR ME! I was asleep in MINUTES, Instead of waiting for the sunrise and then waiting to feel the exhaustion that knocks you out finally, and I woke up feeling like I slept restfully and was amazed. I’ve tried binaural beats, which take a while to get into and then I couldn’t use them for a while. This is what I needed. Last night was the best sleep I’ve had in years, and I’m disabled and in pain much of the time. Try it again if you didn’t see any results. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just get into your own rhythm and go with it till you just... hey, it’s morning! I hope it helps you. Peace and sweet dreams!
For those like me who for some reason struggled to get the rhythm and breathing together, he is actually tapping 8 times for each number he says. You can count it the same way a drummer counts sixteenth notes. Tap once for the number, once for the 'ee', once for the 'and', once for the 'ah' Breathing in 1 ee and ah( he says one ) 2 e and a 3 e and a ( he says two ) 4 e and a 5 e and a ( he says three ) 6 e and a 7 e and a ( he says four ) 8 e and a If you want to count along with him and only count to 4, just repeat one count twice and you'll be in time with him. Count the second one in your head quieter, like an echo. 1 e and a ( he says one ) 1 e and a 2 e and a ( he says two ) 2 e and a 3 e and a ( he says three ) 3 e and a 4 e and a ( he says four ) 4 e and a You can also click on the settings button and slow down the video to practice counting with him at a slower speed if you need to. If you want a metronome to count along to to get yourself into the rhythm, he is counting about 118bpm, which makes sense since he said to tap at the speed of a stopwatch. At 120bpm we are doing 4 taps per second. You can download a metronome app for your phone too, and you can set it to accent the first beat for each number :). With my metronome set to 120bpm, I tap with my right hand on the beat and left hand taps in between the beats, so I'm tapping with my right on every click, so I focus on my right hand to get the rhythm down.
@@hungryhippoballs7841 oh no! What is it that you're not getting? I slowed the video down and tapped along with him that way. Press the cog in the bottom right corner of the video player and choose playback speed.
Notice how before the exercise he was speaking sort of quickly, sort of half-normal pace, and after the exercise he spoke slowly. Even he was becoming calm!
Thank you so much for this, it's been about 2 or 3 years since I first watched this video and since then, I have never struggled with not being able to sleep. I do this every time before I sleep by resting my hand on the edge of the bed and every single day, I sleep quite quickly. Truly a life-changer.
Hey everyone i've been doing this for a few weeks now since I saw this and it has always worked. I have never done it the way this guy in the video does. I am laying down, so I am not tapping my legs with both hands. I just tap my one finger on one hand on my bed or pillow and that's it, wherever my hand happens to be that is where I will tap. That's enough to get your body to follow the rhythm. As long as you feel that tapping coming to your body in some way, that is enough. Last thing I remember each night is that I no longer have the energy to tap my finger anymore and then I sleep. I don't even count to four and only sometimes do the breathing exercise. The tapping by itself is enough.
Thank you, that is really helpful. Especially as I found it hard to keep tapping at one rate whilst counting to 4 at a different rate (am I the only one?)
@@floatysarah Nope... drumming is all about timing. Try getting 2 hands and 2 feet to do 4 different things... in perfect time. If it was easy, we'd all be drummers.
Thanks for posting, and your tip about just tapping one finger on the bed or pillow next to you. The video, using two hands on two legs, made me think this would only work while sleeping on one’s back! LOL.
Yes...exactly. you are right the way you suggested. I'm glad you took the time to spell it out for others to try. Best to do it lying relaxed in bed..even just a finger tapping works.
Jim Donovan, you are a genius!!! I have had extreme insomnia my entire life, literally since I was a baby because my mind is so overactive. Last night I tried this, while laying in bed - eyes closed in the dark - patting on my tummy. I was breathing another commenter's recommendation of IN for 4, HOLD for 7, OUT for 8. I could actually feel my mind slowing down. I fell asleep so fast, I don't even remember stopping the tapping! Dang!
@Jim Donovan 19yrs. 11months. 352 days of straight night shift. Trying to sleep through the daylight hours was an active sleep struggle instead of a naturally passive sleep pattern. Lawnmowers. Cars, neighbors doors slamming all day. Then @@JimDonovanMusic came into my mind every day. Wish I learned this technique 19 yrs ago. My most sincere gratitude for sharing this technique. It has enhanced the quality of my families life immensely and, hopefully,( the rest of my life.) Hey. No pun intended (the rest of my life) Get It? LOL!!!! Gracias Amigo.
It works for me! Especially helpful for those times when getting up to use the bathroom and trying to fall back to sleep. Funny how, after watching this, I remembered that as a child, I used to lie on my side and rock back and forth to put myself to sleep. I don't remember when or why I stopped doing it, but after watching Jim's video, simply rocking is all I have to do now.
This is my issue as well, waking up to go to the bathroom and not being able to fall asleep again. I'm going to try this method tonight. If you have any other tips, let me know Thalia!
I also remember lying on my side and rocking myself to sleep as a child. It was particularly associated with a winter I spent at a small seaside settlement - I used to lie in bed at night listening to the rhythmic thud of the waves on the beach some 50 yards away. Never slept better!
oh boy, this is so grrrrrreat! life-changing! :-) I tried it out and it just works! and I discovered you can use it the other way round in the morning... start slowly, hardly tapping, and accelerate!
This is truly a gift! By doing this exercise it helps shut down the racing mind and initiates that feeling you get right before/as you are falling asleep. As a long time insomniac, this is unbelievable. I'm am amazed at how easy it is for me to fall asleep now. Awesome!
I tried it and when I opened my eyes I felt a kind of peace. I wasn't asleep yet but i was so relaxed that I was pleasantly surprised. I'm going to do this tonight. I think this simple technique may actually work for me long term. Thank you for sharing that.
I wake up for school at 7am and i fall asleep at past 5am, school is one of my frustrations so i do have some rituals(routine) in order to prepare for the next day in school after which i go to sleep at 5pm-9
@@BlackXxScopez But im being tired in school tho, focus is a bit off and after 5h in school my eyes just start letting me down wanting to fall into a dream, never slept in school, but sure am tired, its hard for me to go earlier to sleep because im used to this schedule now
UA-cam evidently takes the current time into account when recommending videos.
I swear its getting smarter and smarter lol it either makes sense like this, or its those mindless pointless videos that keep you up for no good reason😂
Mood. It's a little past 1 a.m. for me lol
lol watching this at 02:34, googles passive aggressively telling me to go to bed.
Yup saw this a little after 3am
No, it's 4pm for me... too early
6:50 where he actually starts talking about the method
thank you
Thanks
My hero 😊💛
My hero
You’re a legend among men
"87% of teens are chronically sleep-deprived"
Education system: I'm going to pretend I didn't see that
Home school due to covid 19 is making it all worse too
It’s games and the internet, not school.
@@BiggusDickus79 thats just an assumption
Broken Joe It’s observation. The notion that there are too many school hours or that too much homework is set is laughable in the face of the fact that it’s not uncommon for teens to be gaming til past midnight on a school day.
Biggus Dickus Have to agree. I just finished high school and gotta say for the most times I had my full 8 hours of sleep during these 4 years the exception being those times I spent on my phone for too long or playing videogames for too long.
As a lifelong insomniac, I find this 'tool' to be quite effective. It doesn't always work, especially if I am more preoccupied than usual, but it is one of the most effective methods I have ever tried. Thank you!
can you do this lying down?
@@chessman19 Yes, I usually do it in bed by tapping my shoulders in a 'self hug' position. I also sometimes sit on the edge of the bed and tap my legs like he did in the video. It really does calm the mind.
@@dlg5485 thank you
@@chessman19 Yes! You can do the tapping on your bed or chest. Hope that helps!
@@JimDonovanMusic Thank you Jim for your talk and your reply! :)
Jim Donovan: “How to trick your brain into falling asleep”
Me, an intellectual: Imma watch this instead of sleeping.
Tomas Martinez Grant been there, done that
and doing it yet again
Exactly what i thought watching this 11:30pm...
Same here... 5.28 AM
1:00 am here
Dude its 12 am here in south korea, and im doing the same thing.
Literally every health organization in the world: “people need, on average, 7-8 hours of sleep to be healthy.”
Highschools and colleges: “I’m gonna pretend I didn’t see that.”
Wait till they turn 40. Sleep will be their best friend.
@@thomasoliva1 I'm in my 50's and could count on one hand how many times I've slept over 7 hours in a night in the past 5 years. However, I sleep great and fall asleep easy.
And when you have a job is worse, and when you have kids it's impossible.
Slept more in college than any other point in my life though.
highschool years.... ahhh 2 hours of sleep and afternoon naps ❤️
This man underestimates how fast I can eat a bowl of cereal
Well congrats on that, now go to sleep.
evan kent 🤣
Not if you make space of a second bowl
thought i was the only one
You gotta savor it though
I watched this video for the first time about a month ago. I must admit that this technique works! I used to have really bad insomnia, about 4-5 hours a sleep on average. But this really does shutdown my system and I’m able to get on average now 7 hours of restful sleep. Thank you for sharing this, changed my life
Is this still working for you plz reply 😢
I'm so glad to hear that it's helping! Thanks for taking the time to let me know 🙏
@@shimaya2412 Yes Ive been using it for 3 years and it still works, the downside is that it was so effective for me that once I got adjusted to it I cannot go back to normal laying down and trying to sleep, I have to rely on this but it still helps me sleep faster than I normally would
@@shimaya2412 no they removed it in the latest patch :/
Someone said he felt bad because his jokes were not funny, and he felt bad.
First, don't feel bad he was good enough to get on TED.
Second, nobody laughed because everyone fell asleep.
I know... this wasn't funny either.
How does youtube know I’m having sleep issues😦 anyone else relate to: “if I fall asleep in the next 26 minutes I’ll have 7 hours of sleep”
i can relate
Well he says 87% teens in USA are sleep deprivated, and are you or are you not from the States, this is probably the reason why xd
Yeah, except replace "7 hours of sleep" with "Five and a half!"! Doh! 😴
Yeah, we all do this when we set the alarm :D
Never goes as it was planned tho
Fonroo canadian. I still get my 8 hours (at least) of sleep on the norm!
Me: tries to trick to brain
Brain: we don't do that here
Yes
You are a brain, to think some of you would be smart enough to know this
Look at My puppy Please stop
Bobby Watson no, you are a brain piloting bone mech with meat armor
Look at My puppy Yes, we all know that. We’re just joking around
When the brain invented a way to trick itself and is teaching other brains how to do it
Lmaoo
And you made the brain
Big brain time
Different aspect 🤔🤔
Smarty pants
Omg this worked first try!!! I just slept for 7hrs and 45 mins. I woke up by myself and it only took a few mins to drift off - I don’t even remember getting to slow down the tapping. I laid down and crossed my arms and tapped them. This is life changing for me! I have been a insomniac going on 15 years now. I just can’t believe how easy it was to hack my brain.
it has lots of other amazing capabilities!!
@@BRAINWHISPERER aye pls elab renee
So glad to hear this!! Thanks for taking the time to let me know. Sleep well.
How are things today? Does it still work for you?
Hack might not be the best terminology. Another commenter suggested this pattern is like what is done with babies. We rock them to sleep because it is rhythmic pattern like the video said. The same concept in a different way can be applied to us, and I found that amazing!
"The secret to falling asleep is rhythm." Every parent who ever rocked a baby to sleep knows this, but I guess we don't think it applies to adults.
Try it, 👍
Finifugal I asked my wife to rock me, she just punched my arm instead
LKRaider that make me laugh, good comment
Good shout.
My husband has a rythm
10 years of never being able to sleep without help, where I have heavily relied on watching youtube or movies til I drop, or reading books to sleep, where even with these methods there's no assurance I'll be able to sleep. Important events that I needed sleep for but ended up sleeping very late because my mind won't let me. Sleep should be rest and not feel like heavy work.
I've tried so much methods, I've tried sleeping early but eventually got to sleep at 3 or 4 AM, I've tried not moving for 15 mins., music therapy, ASMR, doing a light activity before sleeping, drinking milk or water before sleep, keeping my mind at peace while eyes are shut, hypnosis videos which I've watched til dawn but never worked, and a whole lot that I can't even remember in this 10 years of sleep deprivation but to no avail. Even with my partner to cuddle I couldn't sleep without a youtube session to drop me. I already gave up trying at this point.
Then one day this video randomly appeared while watching Ted vids. For one night I dropped my reliance to watching youtube videos for sleep, I studied what he did then tried it. Next thing I knew, it's morning. I couldn't believe it worked so tried it again for 4 days straight and it still worked with no problems, I even woke up easily at 5AM at times on my own, without feeling groggy.
So to Jim Donovan, thank you, from the bottom of my heart, and for the 10 years of pain that I still couldn't believe you've cured. Because of you I can see myself having years of healthy sleep. And because of you...I can finally drop those late night cereals for good.
To those who couldn't make this work, keep the normal pace for a while until you can feel your mind getting baited by this ticking sensation, to what your fiingers are doing. A few minutes after, slow the pace then either let your fingers drop by itself, or drop it when your mind enters a moderately deep, somewhat imaginative state. After which, you let your mind go with the flow of thoughts.
Thank you so much for sharing. I really do appreciate your input.
Works for me too
2 weeks and still works surprisingly without fail. In one night I've gone from a night owl into an early bird.
@@Chicken-coop Do you do the breathing the way he does? I have trouble inhaling and exhaling in the way he suggests.
It worked! I am typing this inside my dream.
hello reddit.
It double worked! I am also typing this inside your dream.
@@xMrJanuaryx I don't even know whose dreams I'm in, it's definitely not mine, mine always have diansours and I've usually wet myself, but in this one I'm on UA-cam, typing up comments and stuff.
@@davelordy Cool dream bro
@@Keranu DreamBro™
I came here to say a big thank you. I watched this video about a year ago and I thought it was a useless piece of joke. But, as a life long insomniac, I finally gave it a try. But, I tried a modified version of yours.
I touched my thumb and index finger very quietly while lying down to sleep. I did both left and right hands alternating while slowly breathing as you said and focusing on these fingers only.
And IT WORKED!!!
Big thank you sir!!!
Yes it definiteley doesn't matter where you touch or even you can just move a part of your body (I usually move my toe), as long as you do the slowing down, this trick almost always work, I'm very thankful, too.
The technique starts at 8:00. You’re welcome and sweet dreams. 😴
I read this comment after i watched the video though
Thanks baby lol.
Thx!
Thank you!
Thank you for keeping me from wasting the first 5 minutes.
İm not able to trick my brain,because we watched it together
poopy I literally laughed out loud
🤣🤣🤣
Under rated
Not me, I locked mine in the closet so it wouldnt find out
Thank you, Poopy! 😆
For those after precise information:
It's manipulating rhythm. For instance when you unconsciously start rhythmically moving a body part relative to the beat when you hear a great song that's called frequency following response.
FFR relaxes your mind from erratically jumping to new ideas or thoughts and grounds them to pattern occurring. This relaxes you helping you calm down for sleep.
Lying down gently tap your thighs with your hands like a ticking clock: left, right, left, right... gently. Do this for as long as it takes while taking, deep, relaxing breaths. Progressively get slower and slower as you pay attention to how relaxed and comfortable you feel while just focusing on the rhythm of your taps. Be calm, relaxed as it can take up to 3 or more minutes to drift into slumber.
Sweet dreams
Dan Lead you’re the real mvp
Thank you!
I use a clock - counting in sets of four- Have done so for years as i accidentally figured this out for myself, (hint sometimes your mind will start to wonder away and start the "why is grass green/is the oven left on/why would you put pineapple on a pizza" routine but as soon as you catch on you have stopped counting the rhythm just re-start the process)
Thank God there's still people like you making useful and smart comments instead of re-using the same joke again and again because they're desperate for likes
This comment deserves all the likes
I watched this at 1a.m. because I couldn't fall asleep after being tired all day. I went into a comfortable sleeping position and started tapping and deep breathing. It took me about 25 minutes to actually fall asleep, but it instantly relaxed me, and I could tell it was going to work--It did! I will be doing this again tonight and in the future because I frequently have insomnia.
Jim Donovan: How To Trick Your Brain Into Falling Asleep
Me at 5am: 👁👄👁
:o the only one more powerful than us 4am gang
This came on my recommendations at 4 48 a.m.
Ali A. 🙈🙈
Literally 530 am rn 🤦♀️
It’s 5:15 rn
Tried this twice. After about 3-4 minutes, I thought, "This ain't working." That's all I remember because it did work.
Jajajajajaja 😂😂😂😂😂
😂 I remember thinking that when listening to a sleep CD. But must work, as never heard the end of it.
Lies. You lie
@@listerine414 ?????
Im so happt for you
“87% of teenagers are sleep deprived”
Department of education: “I see no problem here”
Well we can safely assume that no one does homework until 1 am and then gets only 4 hours of sleep. The problem is that many high schoolers have terrible time management and do the homework and other assignments last minute, if at all.
Honestly unless you do a huge number of extracurriculars or several ap classes, most students can get 8 hours of sleep 95% of the time if they have proper time management.
@@GarrettMobley I just left highschool and can tell you that the kids who don't care about high school are getting as much sleep as they want.
Why’s it the education department’s fault? In full AP classes and my schools sports team I still had 4+ hours a day after my hw and athletics to play video games... and that’s from moseying through the hw. Just be efficient when you work and put distractions away when it’s time to sleep. Schools aren’t responsible for up it personal life
For some weird reason school decides to have before school practices at 5am
...
Srsly school?
I cannot believe how this video became so critical for my sleep habits, Jim Donovan, you deserve a big big applause from everyone. Thanks to Jim's tip, I managed to shorten my falling into sleep time into barely few minutes.
That's very kind of you to say. I appreciate it. Sleep well!
@@JimDonovanSoundHealthman so many people I can attribute to my virtues, which I believe God providentially placed in front of me. I’m so glad God gave you this revelation to share with others. You inspire me to now share it with everyone else and this video. Huge thankfulness from the bottom of my heart.
Got sleepy after trying, can’t wait till trying tonight!
@@Alex-ns6hj You're most welcome! I hope it helps Alex!
How u do ittt
8:20 start of exercise. I'm putting this here for me so I can easily find it again later.
8:49 audience participation begins
I listened to this in double time and now I fall asleep twice as fast as this guy ..
I guess that works lol
Lmao!!! Good one
**Big Brain**
yeah boring isnt he
969 likes no one like this comment
Let’s be honest, we all came here to vibe with the 2 am squad who have an exam tomorrow lmao.
Literally me.
Gl to all the test takers! 3:48 am over here at the time of this writing
@@alexandergu7797 3.04am at time here 18hrs after you...
Im a drop out 🤪
FPS of...college?
I remember trying this ages ago. It worked so well that I ended up forgetting that sleep had ever been a problem....until it became a problem again! Somehow I didn't remember this solution until I happened across it again recently and....BINGO! It still works beautifully! Falling asleep quickly and staying asleep ALL night (let me say that again. ALL NIGHT!!) Thank you Jim Donovan!
You're most welcome Kathy!
So you need to do this exercise while sitting or laying or standing?
@@warlord5488 I lay on my back and tap my thighs lightly with a quick beat while I breath in and out slowly to the count of 4 or 5 until - like the video shows - the tapping becomes slower...and slower...and slower to match my breathing until it eventually stops and I am asleep.
@@warlord5488 Good question. Sitting or lying down is best. The more comfortable you are the better.
Can we do this exercise while laying down in bed?
Ok, now tell me how to get 8 hours of sleep in 4 hours
Watch the video in 2x
@@thebesteu-west2763 Genius
@@thebesteu-west2763 you're wrong. You need to sleep 2x
@@yunus6009 But you have to learn to sleep in 2x, so you watch the Video in 2x.
Just set your clock 4 hours back trust me it works 😉
This was insane. When i opened my eyes i felt frozen, so calm, like i could barely move. Its like a powerful form of meditation. Thank you, this has really changed my life and is a very helpful thing that everyone can try. It really works!
Probably why a baby falls asleep when you pat it's back.
@@sharonmartin8517 no, that's where the RESET button is located.
I can’t express, how thankful I’m to this guy. I wish I’ve seen this video years ago. It really works if you do it do it right. I actually tried it with my fingers only instead of palms and it worked out ok. I have my sleep back. Thank you so much, this method should be taught in school !!!
flying cacoon
Many of us have a deep-seated resistance to installing habits intentionally. It’s like we dare ourselves to MAKE US do anything we don’t HAVE TO do. It’s like we’re still petulant children but the grown-up we’re resisting is ourselves.
Give yourself permission to do what works for you.
TerrificTom : that’s so profound and so true. Wow.
dude this comment section is so useless. i came down here to see if this actually worked and all i see is shitposting
Ikr...
@@hariprahal1947 I definitely got tired while doing it and my brain feels more accepting to sleep. Try It It workss!!1
Worked for me! Took like 4 mins of lieing down after i did the tapping. Also dreamed a lot. Also woke up like 20 mins later. Idk
Literally Leo thanks for actually being helpful lmao. i’ll give it a try myself in that case
It's because people can't comment when they're asleep
Wow! I fell asleep right after I tapped the first time, woke up in the very early morning to pee, tapped again and then woke up a bit after 9am! I never sleep until 9am, ever! It's wonderful to see how humans can help each other. If we could just move out of the resistance and rigidity of our often mistaken beliefs and conclusions and instead share what we know with each other, we could literally help each other to become more. And our planet would blossom as a place for everyone to become more! Thank you Jim for your expertise and willingness to share what you know in such an effective manner.
Ñnñ
The trick, start at 8:10: tap on your legs like a slow metronome and breathe in and out on 4 counts, then slow that metronome down for some repetitions. It's like rocking yourself to sleep.
Thank you.
Thanks
There's always a king in the comments. Thank you
Thanks
sounds great... if i were a professional drummer
Me: doing the tapping at 2 AM
My wife wakes up: what are you doing?
Me: I'm having a mental breakdown
Chuckling out loud to myself at this comment.
blackcatsarenopussies 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂🤣🤣😂😂😂thanks - that was cute🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂🤣🤣
But did it help you sleep?
Had a proper chuckle at this
😂
@@Faith2liveby yes it did, for me at least, you have to be willing to try. Hard at first but you just need to concentrate on the breathing and counting while tapping. I did the tapping with my index fingers on my chest while lying down inhale (1and2and3and4and) exhale (1and2and3and4and) clear your mind by concentrating on the counting and breathing over and over again. I don't know when I went to sleep by my fitbit said that I slept 6 1/2 hrs and that hasn't happeded in a while.
Who is watching this 2 in the morning?
4
I'm watching it at 2 pm however I haven't had sleep yesterday so it's welcomed 😂
Its 2 in the morning somewhere
6:20 am
1:39 am
I've always felt that a great night's sleep is equivalent to the best medicine that you could ever get ahold of so I think what this guy has to say is more important then just about anything else I can think of.
Exactly, god bless this man
Agreed!
Woke up too early morning, did I it, fell asleep. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is the only sleep advice that worked for me.
Nice! that's great news. I find that the technique works even better the more often I use it. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Jim Donovan Thanks man, I honestly think you saved my life...
who clicked immediately because they cant fall asleep rn.
2am, got work I in a few hours. Been up watch public piano videos, and talent shows. Idfk.
It seems everyone watched this at 2 am
@@skylarstenlund nicely done :)
@@blaircrandall4628 its the golden hour
Yep
Is this exploit still working or has it been patched?
As a software engineer, this made laugh out loud. xD
As a TierZoo fan I approve of this joke.
No they added it but they made it so you have to pay to access this feture
Idc ether they removed patch notes
EA makes you pay 15 dollars a month now to use it. I’ve personally have just been pirating this expansion through and Indie website called Limewire
I'll be darned, this worked for me, though my brain still fought and I had to do this 3 or 4 times, I ended falling asleep in probably 15 to 20 minutes as opposed to staring at cieling with my mind racing for 1 to 3 hours.
Thank you!
1 hour to fall asleep would be nice lol
This guy's a legend. From tapping sticks to start the music to slapping lap to get the nap. Rhythm is his life.
This man needs civilization's best compliment. By helping people sleep better, he is boosting their health and happiness.
If it helps him, it doesn't mean it helps others
I tried it many times, no, no sleep for me.
CBD ver low THC helps me for sleep and seizures. Getting over the feeling of impending doom. Healing thru therapy from ptsd. Don’t stop searching. It’s taken me 40 years. I don’t know how I made it. Pure will and Gods strength. I’m happier than ever
@@jamieraegro dear Jamie, where do you get it?
And extending their life no sleep can kill , insomnia is slow torture personal experience 😶 after a few days with no sleep, seeing shadows from the corner of your eyes, becoming delirious, it's terrible. I've always been an insomniac as a kid I'd always get in trouble bc I wouldn't be able to sleep until the sun starts to rise, I'm 37 and it's almost 6a.m. right now and I have been awake going on 2 days now even after smoking some really Stony bud , that's why I have a playlist I add to every day called sleep list, I have favorite narrators if true crime etc and their voices definitely have been helping me fall asleep for the last 4ish years
Thank you for the kindness. We're all in this together.
I tried this last night and it worked! I also didn't wake up half a dozen times like usual.
Thank you SO much!
J
Is it still working?
@@thearmchairjournalist566, I've actually forgotten about this with everything that's gone on this year. Thank you so much for asking. It did help for the few days I practiced it...that's all I know.
I also know I am going to do this again tonight. Again, thank you for bringing this back to my attention.
@@BethBurns68 Hello how are you now
@@thearmchairjournalist566 , I am also wild gooseberry...so it was me who replied last year. I'm using meditation music along with this and it's working very well. :)
This is an amazing technic. After my time in the military, for years it took me well over an hour fall asleep... and it was really light sleep... but i found this video and tried and changed my life.
I alternate tapping the tips of my finger and counting to 100 and back... and im passed out all night.
Thank you
dont underestimate my cereal eating skills
That's a wumbo diabeetus for Gryffindor.
No'em sayin?
Gnome Saiyan?
I GOT NO MIIIIIILK!!!
I immediately thought the exact same thing
Title: "how to trick yourself into falling asleep"
This guy: "I had a heart attack. IM DYING"
You cracked me up😂😂😂
Well, it works for not being awake any more, so that counts... right?
Lolololololol
wait i should do that
☠🤣☠
I have an end user licence agreement i try and read every night. I pass out on the first paragraph.
Now there is a million dollar sleep aid idea.... :)
Try reading math books at night. Guaranteed to pass out within a few minutes.
I have a math book from a kid which has the same effect on me. I never crossed the second page! Btw, I am math addicted 😊
roborat great idea 💡 !!!
Law or Medical induces sleep in 9 out of 10 people . Use only as directed and consult your physician if sleep problems persist .
I tried it a year ago when I was really anxious and had trouble sleepign and it didn't work but I didn't try it that many times and I was worried that I wasn't doign it right. I tried it recently and wow it knocked me out after about 3-4 minutes of it. Don't give up so easily. Thank you Jim.
I tried this trick yesterday, for the first time I fell asleep in a few minutes. It was amazing. I must tell I'd got really awfull stressing week.
mrsMarg77 has it worked since?
Atleast, this speaker is offering something different from alcohol and sedatives, appreciate his honesty to help others
Matt Walker Ted talks on sleep are good, too.
I'm a father of 7, and this is how I've always put my babies to sleep. Rhythmic patting and swaying, then when you can tell they are focusing on the pattern, slow it down. Soften the pats and slow the swaying. Works almost every time.
If it doesn't, then I find a way to disrupt their thinking, and try again.
Crying a bit alone is okay.
I hope this helps someone.
This talk was genius. I'm going to make a story, like Lion Hunt, and hypnotize my kids to sleeping.
Mom used to make us sleep just like you said. She naturally shows down the beat because she's falling asleep also.
That sounds like a great idea, I could recommend - wait, you have *7* kids?? Whoa. Respect dude, your household must be unimaginably busy! (in a good way)
Most parents do this to their children in my village. Did the same thing to my kids to. Never really understand why it works, but today I understand.
Oh my. I did this and still do with every baby I hold. Why didn't I try it for myself!!!!
You sound like an amazing Dad. :) Thanks for the comment Jared. I did the same thing when my 3 were little. I think we're born with the tendency to use rhythm to soothe the little ones. I'd be into hearing that story !
I've tried it so many times along the years and I can say, it doesn't matter whether you're sitting or lying down or where you touch; you can even just move a part of your body (I usually move my toe), as long as you do the slowing down, this trick almost always work, I'm very thankful.
I tried this during the day and I discovered that I started yawning straight away. me and my wife were laughing, it definitely works.
I have chronic Insomnia for 15 years I have been using white noise lately I suppose that works in the same way.
This is something you can easily do every single night no harm done good luck everyone
He is the only Public Speaker in the world who actually wants his crowd to sleep during his presentation 😅
lol
😂😂😂
Great job! I'll try.
Also Bill Cosby
I take it as the highest compliment.
Jokes on you this video is keeping me up later
Same 😂😂
3 Hours of sleep gang
Eꜰꜰi 3? What are you, royalty ? I’m getting 1 and a half gang gang
3 am fk this video
After trying the exercise, i thought it didn't work. But then he said "notice how your mind feels". And wow, i actually felt lighter. Thank you, i'm definitely calling my friend tonight to get more sleep !
Until I saw this video I can count on one hand the # of nights I slept solid all night. My sleep would best be described as a bunch of "mini-naps". In bed by 10:30, finally fall asleep at some point awake by 2:30. Then it was asleep again for another hour/ hour and a half, repeating this cycle. Well last night was night 5 of trying this technique of the rhythmic pattern and I have slept straight through all 5 nights. Thank you for this video.
So glad to hear this! Thanks for sharing.
Jim Donovan Jesus Christ
AskingForAFriend ... Cool. I’ll have to try it
Askingforafriend
Your sleep pattern was exactly like mine. Going to try it right now.
Wow..that is amazing! I wake up after 4 hrs or so and can't fall back to sleep. Will try this tonight.
Update: tried method... my mom walked in and thought I was rubbing one out:/
Matthew Meadows lmao, retry, maybe after your parents are asleep? Or if they sleep late then uh, be careful lol
@@elgeorge437 Or just do it facing the door so they can see lmao.
Just show them the video and they should understand. Otherwise, I hope they aren’t the ones actually raising you.
You shouldn't have let her watch the first time. Now she just feels entitled.
Are you Australian?
Thank you! I have been in a lot of pain and I usually wake up every hour. I actually slept 6 hours uninterrupted last night. This worked for me!
So glad!
I have a hard time falling asleep. I doubted that this method would work for me but I tried it anyway. Holy Cow! It really does work! I don’t do the exercise while sitting on the edge of my bed, I do it once settled in bed. It has worked for me every time I’ve tried it over the last 4 nights. Wow!
Can you do breathing technique properly while lying down?
@@kaykaroberts1215 I feel like I’m doing the breathing technique alright lying down.
@@joannejohnson7367 👍
Been doing it for a week and I'm finally getting some sleep. It actually stops my brain from being too active. Thank you
me too!
It really does puts one at ease to welcome sleep. I did the exercise while he was talking, and I’m surprised how my brain relaxed me. And he’s right, I go to bed and can’t sleep because I’m thinking too much.
@@alvaroakatico9188 so glad for you!
This guy, teaching you this technique for free, is the real MVP
Thanks Luis.
@@JimDonovanMusic Hey Jim, do we do it standing up or in bed? thanks
@@rodproducts do it driving
@@rodproducts Experiment? I prefer sitting or lying down. (TEDx wouldn't let me bring my hammock on stage...)
@@JimDonovanMusic Thanks, and hammocks are great for relaxing.
I just got the best night’s sleep of my life, thanks to this ‘trick!’ I don’t remember a night when I slept for eight hours without waking up. This is an answer to prayer.
Is it true
Pls rply me
@@vyshnaviambati229 are u sleeping better now?
Is it still working?
The last time for me was when I had dental surgery in March and they gave me Vicodin. I finished the whole bottle, one pill every night for 10 days and slept each of those nights straight through. But of course you can't stay on that drug forever
Best thing for me is to imagine re-arranging my room. It gets the brain in an imaginative state, like the dream state. Try painting walls in your mind, organizing a closet, putting an outfit together, just imagine it.
I can continue rearranging all night.
I have done similar highly focused attention to detail imaginations which cause me to have sleep paralisis. The scarest most intense senations so real i can not say if it was a dream or real. That is something I have always wanted to teach people
deepest sympathies to my fellow insomniacs out there
Did this work buddy
@@ADHDSophia No didn't work but such a desperate insomniac I tried for so long I can now play the bongo's quite well.
I dont understand insomnia and people who have it. If you’re tired, just sleep no? I mean I dont get much sleep personally, maybe 5h a night during the week, but I just dont feel tired that much. If one night I’m not tired or for whatever reason I only get 2-3 hours the next night obviously I’m gonna be tired so I’ll go to sleep a lot earlier. Idk just seems weird to me that you can just not fall asleep even though you’re exhausted.
@@blanco7726 Problem is that some people struggle to stay awake during the day and are fully awake at night. And they cannot change that.
Some hypothesis is that they were supposed to defend the "tribe" during the prehistoric nights.
xrayban2 that doesn’t make sense, since that would mean most people who work night shifts would have difficulties staying up at night when theyre working, because not everyone was defending the tribe back then. Also what helps against falling asleep in the day 1. Doing stuff outside 2. Energy drinks
This guy was actually really funny but no one laughed at his jokes. I feel kinda bad :(
I didnt even know there were jokes haha
This guy is not funnh
I'm Sorry Jon which jokes?
Usually, for every 250 jokes I crack, I get 1 chuckle... I just didn't have enough time.
Actually there is laughter in the background, i can hear them on my reference headset!
Million thanks for your talk and comprehensive explanations! As a Hong Kong citizen, puzzled and saddened by the current happenings , your talk helps me a lot. Again! MILLION THANKS ! MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
You're most welcome and thank you for your kindness.
@@JimDonovanSoundHealth You are a Genius for this, the technique should actually be named after you and posted in the Scientific Journal. This has changed my life, thank you so much for this gift. God Bless 🙏🏽
@@dgatan So glad to hear it's helping you! That makes my day.
Jim Donovan THANK YOU - this is BRILLIANT!
When I first tried it, I soon realized standing/sitting up would not work at all... so I did the obvious = got into bed, lights out, snuggled into blankets. I also made a major modification to your technique - no big movements of whole hands required - the tiniest movement of one finger tapping a pillow/blanket was plenty enough, as the physical component, to accompamy the mental component. As the proud owner of "Busy Brain" [useful when working, but not sleeping!] this is what I think happens: this tiny movement, synced with breathing - in practice, this is several tiny movements per breath, but in sync - these TWO focal aspects are just enough to kinda "pass by" Busy Brain. For some of us, any meditation-like practice - that uses just one pattern - breathing - simply isn't enough, it's too easy to fall off track, for thoughts to interrupt! Which has been a great puzzle for years - if it works for others, why not me? Because ONE pattern is not enough. This is basically adding a second pattern [tapping] that flows WITH the first pattern [breath] => occupies most/enough of the "attention" so hyped in meditation practice. Kinda tricks the brain: "Hey feel this - then feel this too." Good Night Busy Brain! Brilliantly simple. Who would have thunk it.
Beautifully said. Thank you.
You're most welcome!!
Exercise explanation starts at 8:20, exercise starts at 8:45
forisma cheers, mate!
Thanks - I was about to bail on this
forisma ooh man, great. Thnx a lot
Saved 8 min, thanks
when does he fall asleep?
Him: sleep deprivation can kill you!
Me trying to find out how to fall asleep before i die:
*SWEATS PROFUSELY*
@Stephen MacPherson :(
Xanax
Hehe, good one 🤣
@@e.elsibea1518 Wow I'm using Alprazolam too
@@PurEvil10 is this a sleeping pills do you take it every night?how old are you please reply??
This technique has worked for me when I'm too anxious to sleep. Last night my granddaughter stayed over night. She was overly tired so l did the exercise with her and she soon was able to relax and sleep!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
So glad to hear that Mary!
Sounds like a great idea. I literally DID get tired doing this exercise, could feel the sense of slumber start to pour down from the top of my skull. So I had to stop, fearing I would fall asleep doing this exercise. I will try this tonite. BTW, I've tried many things but for most people, including myself, it really is getting control of your own thoughts and putting them to rest. Jim's description of the problem of falling and staying asleep is as close a description I've ever heard to my own problem.
I am actually able to do this just tapping a single finger on each of my shoulders (I "hug" myself to go to sleep) while I am already lying down in bed. It doesn't disturb my husband and it has never failed to work! Thank you soooo much for sharing this
Yes, it's the rhythm, not the position you're in.
I also hug and rock myself.
@@pennyarsenault7162 thank you both for sharing, I didn't know anyone else did that.
God forbid you should disturb your husband 🙄
Oh my I do the same thing, just your fingers telling your brain what’s happening. 🇨🇦
As someone with a history of chronic anxiety, I can say with certainty that this does in fact work. Even if it is just to calm the brain down, it helps a great deal.
Thanks Jim Donovan!
worked for me as well!
I was suprised how well it worked bc deep breathing with counting doesn't tend to work for me. Moving my hands works
I suffer from crazy restless legs- this helps
I can't believe how much this helped. I used 6 second breathing instead of 4. I was asleep within 5 minutes. Thank you so much!
My wife of 48 years has trouble sleeping every night. She is not a dye hard music lover like me. I have several songs that I really love and have them memorized. Almost every night I will start singing one in my mind. I have been doing this for years. Unless I am sick, I can't ever remember finishing a song to the end.
This makes sense. I've been an insomniac for over 50 years. I also spent as much time as I possibly could in my younger years on horseback. One of the few things that has occasionally worked to help me fall asleep is to imagine myself riding a horse at a steady walk. It's a nice rhythmic four-beat gait. Now, if I can just stop thinking about the scenery on our ride, the horse's markings, the imaginary weather...
hopefully you can get yourself some sleep! i've been and insomniac for 6 years, and sometimes i have worse times and sometimes i have periods where i fall asleep in 20 minutes. good luck to you, i just try to go to bed and wake up at the same time, even during weekends
Then....drat, it's cast a shoe!
Ah the final sentence is so relatable.
Ikr! I tried a method for falling asleep where you imagine you're laying down in a boat on calm water on a warm sunny day, and I couldn't stop thinking about if a water snake might jump in the boat!
Just as you drop off, your horse spooks 👻
instructions unclear, accidentally ate 4 bowls of lucky charms
SX Sean best comment
that’s works too
Sometimes they magically fall into ones mouth... what can you do?
They’re magically delicious
Just saying, the likes are on 420 and I’m not ruining that
To my amazement, I got sleepy just watching him and breathing as he did while relaxing. As a lifelong insomniac, I can only say, Wow. Thank you so much!
Chris Ramsay makes me get sleepy.
@DK Phillips It's been 3 weeks. Has it helped?
My brother, as a kid, used to rhythmically roll his head back and forth till he fell asleep. Any kind of rhythmic action can probably do this magical trick!
I’ve been using the red light for the last couple of days and only been waking up a couple times through the night and actually been able to go back to sleep . Normally I would wake up and I couldn’t go back to sleep but I’m gonna try his technique and hopefully I can sleep all night I almost fell asleep just do his exercise and it is already morning😀
has it actually worked though?
Ive been on sleeping pills for three months and now weaning off experiencing rebound insomnia. Was so grateful to see this video come across my screen. I will definitely be trying this tonight and I will report back. Felt very relaxed after doing the practice run. ❤❤
How you feel? Fallsleep fast & deeper?
what happened?
@@heidih3048 works like magic!!!
@@anjandayal1896 yes!!! After having insomnia for 3 months and weening off a sleeping pill i can honestly say this technique WORKS!!
@@michellelapworth2240 I am so happy to hear that! I am glad it worked for you, and hope it will work for me as well. Thank you for the reply!
10:05 when he says two double tap to rewind 10 seconds. if you keep rewinding 10 seconds he will say 2 perfectly in time with it every time. amazing rhythm
How did you find this out? Very observant, thanks for sharing!
Well, he said he's a drummer
There's still a margin of around one second.
Very good observation
I do something very similar to this when experiencing sensory overload, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, or just stress in general. It helps me slow my heartrate down and gives me something to focus on.
he starts talking about the method at 6:50
(edit) thanks for the likes 🥳
This should be the highest ranked comment here
Thank youuuu
THANK YOUUUUUU!!!
Mvp right there
Nice
I’ve tried this a few times now and it works! Sometimes I’ll wake up at 3:00 AM with my mind racing over something or other. This exercise diverts the focus and the next thing I know, it’s morning! You can pay a ton of money for sleep therapy or try this. It works!
Me, can’t sleep:
*sees it’s 3am
*watches 13 minute video on how to go to sleep
*finishes video
*enjoyed video, very educational
*watches more videos, very interesting
Yeah, I definitely can't sleep because too many things are too interesting to sleep through. We need to learn that no one can actually experience it all, and -- literally give it a rest.
Me too
YES!!! lmao me right now!
Humanoid I’ve been under a lot of stress and THIS WORKED FOR ME! I was asleep in MINUTES, Instead of waiting for the sunrise and then waiting to feel the exhaustion that knocks you out finally, and I woke up feeling like I slept restfully and was amazed. I’ve tried binaural beats, which take a while to get into and then I couldn’t use them for a while. This is what I needed. Last night was the best sleep I’ve had in years, and I’m disabled and in pain much of the time. Try it again if you didn’t see any results. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just get into your own rhythm and go with it till you just... hey, it’s morning! I hope it helps you. Peace and sweet dreams!
@@tiffanyhouchin6055 Awesome it worked for you! I still end up using music to help me fall asleep. Sweet dreams to you too, comrade!
For those like me who for some reason struggled to get the rhythm and breathing together, he is actually tapping 8 times for each number he says.
You can count it the same way a drummer counts sixteenth notes.
Tap once for the number, once for the 'ee', once for the 'and', once for the 'ah'
Breathing in
1 ee and ah( he says one )
2 e and a
3 e and a ( he says two )
4 e and a
5 e and a ( he says three )
6 e and a
7 e and a ( he says four )
8 e and a
If you want to count along with him and only count to 4, just repeat one count twice and you'll be in time with him. Count the second one in your head quieter, like an echo.
1 e and a ( he says one )
1 e and a
2 e and a ( he says two )
2 e and a
3 e and a ( he says three )
3 e and a
4 e and a ( he says four )
4 e and a
You can also click on the settings button and slow down the video to practice counting with him at a slower speed if you need to.
If you want a metronome to count along to to get yourself into the rhythm, he is counting about 118bpm, which makes sense since he said to tap at the speed of a stopwatch. At 120bpm we are doing 4 taps per second. You can download a metronome app for your phone too, and you can set it to accent the first beat for each number :).
With my metronome set to 120bpm, I tap with my right hand on the beat and left hand taps in between the beats, so I'm tapping with my right on every click, so I focus on my right hand to get the rhythm down.
Simon Slater a highly underrated comment i hope your comment gets more likes o noble person
im just more confused, thanks
@@hungryhippoballs7841 oh no! What is it that you're not getting? I slowed the video down and tapped along with him that way. Press the cog in the bottom right corner of the video player and choose playback speed.
Tag for tonight...
Simon Slater its fine i managed to fix my sleep schedule, thanks for wanting to help tho 😃
Notice how before the exercise he was speaking sort of quickly, sort of half-normal pace, and after the exercise he spoke slowly. Even he was becoming calm!
Thank you so much for this, it's been about 2 or 3 years since I first watched this video and since then, I have never struggled with not being able to sleep. I do this every time before I sleep by resting my hand on the edge of the bed and every single day, I sleep quite quickly. Truly a life-changer.
may i ask if you dream better too?
@@urmama54 not sure, I used to dream a lot before, I still do.
what do you mean with the hand on the edge of the bed?
@@jimskeuh he probably means the sleeping on the back position with your hands each sides
@@jimskeuh Yeah, I don't know what they mean either.
Hey everyone i've been doing this for a few weeks now since I saw this and it has always worked. I have never done it the way this guy in the video does. I am laying down, so I am not tapping my legs with both hands. I just tap my one finger on one hand on my bed or pillow and that's it, wherever my hand happens to be that is where I will tap. That's enough to get your body to follow the rhythm. As long as you feel that tapping coming to your body in some way, that is enough. Last thing I remember each night is that I no longer have the energy to tap my finger anymore and then I sleep. I don't even count to four and only sometimes do the breathing exercise. The tapping by itself is enough.
Thank you, that is really helpful.
Especially as I found it hard to keep tapping at one rate whilst counting to 4 at a different rate (am I the only one?)
Many Thanks 👌
@@floatysarah Nope... drumming is all about timing. Try getting 2 hands and 2 feet to do 4 different things... in perfect time. If it was easy, we'd all be drummers.
Thanks for posting, and your tip about just tapping one finger on the bed or pillow next to you. The video, using two hands on two legs, made me think this would only work while sleeping on one’s back! LOL.
Yes...exactly. you are right the way you suggested. I'm glad you took the time to spell it out for others to try. Best to do it lying relaxed in bed..even just a finger tapping works.
Plot twist: There's no one in the hall and you are actually watching him go to sleep.
😂
Awesome! Lol
Jim Donovan, you are a genius!!! I have had extreme insomnia my entire life, literally since I was a baby because my mind is so overactive. Last night I tried this, while laying in bed - eyes closed in the dark - patting on my tummy. I was breathing another commenter's recommendation of IN for 4, HOLD for 7, OUT for 8. I could actually feel my mind slowing down. I fell asleep so fast, I don't even remember stopping the tapping! Dang!
I'm so gad it helps Connie! And the addition of the IN for 4, HOLD for 7, OUT for 8 breathing in wonderful.
@Jim Donovan 19yrs. 11months. 352 days of straight night shift. Trying to sleep through the daylight hours was an active sleep struggle instead of a naturally passive sleep pattern. Lawnmowers. Cars, neighbors doors slamming all day. Then @@JimDonovanMusic came into my mind every day. Wish I learned this technique 19 yrs ago. My most sincere gratitude for sharing this technique. It has enhanced the quality of my families life immensely and, hopefully,( the rest of my life.) Hey. No pun intended (the rest of my life) Get It? LOL!!!! Gracias Amigo.
It works for me! Especially helpful for those times when getting up to use the bathroom and trying to fall back to sleep. Funny how, after watching this, I remembered that as a child, I used to lie on my side and rock back and forth to put myself to sleep. I don't remember when or why I stopped doing it, but after watching Jim's video, simply rocking is all I have to do now.
This is my issue as well, waking up to go to the bathroom and not being able to fall asleep again. I'm going to try this method tonight. If you have any other tips, let me know Thalia!
I also remember lying on my side and rocking myself to sleep as a child. It was particularly associated with a winter I spent at a small seaside settlement - I used to lie in bed at night listening to the rhythmic thud of the waves on the beach some 50 yards away. Never slept better!
@@richardlugg3759 How exactly to Rock myself when lying on side? Would that be tossing and turning? :) Thanks.
How exactly to Rock myself when lying on side? :) Thanks.
I’m imagining him speaking to an empty room, it’s way funnier.
Owen D that’s so true
this is genius
honestly I thought he was, none of his jokes landed at all
So true brother.
Lockdown got us a lot of extra free time
I am geekin RN
oh boy, this is so grrrrrreat! life-changing! :-)
I tried it out and it just works! and I discovered you can use it the other way round in the morning... start slowly, hardly tapping, and accelerate!
I find any stimulus works, even just touching something.
Wow...good way to start the day!
*Let's be honest, you didn't search for this. It searched for u.*
ehh not really
Well..... Kind of
Bro actually
Bingo. I've got horrible sleep apnea, so I use cpap machine every night. What is more, I used to search cpap shops on the internet. Isn't that cute?
No, I searched for this
The older I've gotten, the more trouble I have sleeping. I've been doing this for 1 week and it has worked, every. single. time. Thank you Jim
Watch andrew hubermans podcast episodes on mastering your sleep. Hes here on youtube
UA-cam recommendations: hey fam i see you’re still here and it’s late, here, go to sleep man
UA-cam algorithm always gothcu
It’s only 9 EST
@@gabecoomer1286 then it thinks your in your 80s
This is truly a gift! By doing this exercise it helps shut down the racing mind and initiates that feeling you get right before/as you are falling asleep. As a long time insomniac, this is unbelievable. I'm am amazed at how easy it is for me to fall asleep now. Awesome!
@@androidgameplays4108 It still works life a charm. 👍
Can u explain how he to do breathing part like we have to count?
I'm so glad to hear that!
I tried it and when I opened my eyes I felt a kind of peace. I wasn't asleep yet but i was so relaxed that I was pleasantly surprised. I'm going to do this tonight. I think this simple technique may actually work for me long term. Thank you for sharing that.
“Teenagers are sleep deprived”
Me at 2 am: ok
I wake up for school at 7am and i fall asleep at past 5am, school is one of my frustrations so i do have some rituals(routine) in order to prepare for the next day in school after which i go to sleep at 5pm-9
5-6 hours isn't the worst
@@BlackXxScopez
But im being tired in school tho, focus is a bit off and after 5h in school my eyes just start letting me down wanting to fall into a dream, never slept in school, but sure am tired, its hard for me to go earlier to sleep because im used to this schedule now
I’m your 200th like
Boomer*