Tip for falling asleep in 6 minutes flat

The bed envelops us in comfort, the sheets are clean, the night is about to lull our bodies…and it’s the disturbances of the day that surfaces with obsessive thoughts, anxieties. To reduce stress by 70% and promote falling asleep, specialists have identified a simple and quick activity. 

It’s no secret that reading is an excellent activity for bringing relaxation and reducing anxiety. Based on this observation, specialists at the University of Sussex (United Kingdom) wondered how quickly this so-called relaxing activity could actually act on stress and facilitate sleep.  

In just six minutes! 

Six minutes of reading and, according to their observations, the level of stress decreases by nearly 70%. Based on the data collected, it takes no longer for the brain to focus on text and ignore anxious thoughts (most of them) says media outlet Linternaute. For better results, however, researchers advise reading until you truly feel tired. The ticking clock shouldn't be a concern, as this would add stress to stress and thus be counterproductive. 

Mirrored empathy

In addition to impacting stress levels, reading could improve our analytical skills, concentration, and develop our general knowledge. According to an American-Canadian study, it was also established that while reading, one can develop empathy. As pointed out by Linternaute, by exploring the emotions of certain characters, the reader activates their "mirror neurons," exactly the same brain areas as when feeling emotions of loved ones in real life. The brain thus trains to understand the thoughts and feelings of others. 

Furthermore, both reading and music allow those suffering from Alzheimer’s to continuously exercise their memory and concentration, which the brain needs to stay healthy. 

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: Linternaute - Illustration: ©Unsplash)