This is a cool story.

This is an excerpt about how the Military developed a sleeping technique during WWII.

During WWII, though, the US military quickly got hip to the fact that if fighter pilots didn't get sleep, their poor decisions had dire consequences. Their mishaps included errors that resulted in their being shot down — or shooting down guys on their own side.

Helping combat pilots get good rest fast became a priority.

So the military brought in naval ensign Bud Winter to develop and test a scientifically designed method of "teaching" sleep. Winter was previously a successful college football coach who had collaborated with a psychology professor to form techniques to help athletes relax and excel under pressure.

The relaxation hack Winter designed worked: After just six weeks of practice, 96% of pilots could fall asleep within 120 seconds. Even with distractions like gunfire in the background. Even after drinking coffee. Even sitting up.

Here's how they did it.

Get comy:

Get into the most comfortable position possible. Make sure your legs, thighs and calves are relaxed and still.

Relax your face:

You have 43 muscles in your face. Start by making sure no muscle in your face is flexed. When you fully relax your face, you send a physiological signal to your body that all is well. You'll notice as you do this that your breathing naturally starts to deepen and slow.

Release tension, starting with your neck:

Let everything get heavy. Work your way from your neck down to your feet and think about each muscle group. Flex each muscle for five seconds as you work through each part of your body to physically identify where there should be no tension.

Clear your mind for 10 seconds:

Think about a relaxing scene, if that doesn't work literally say the words "don't think to yourself" over and over for 10 seconds.

4-7-8 breathing:

Close your lips and inhale silently through your nose. Count to 4 in your head. Hold your breath for 7 seconds. After, exhale (with a whoosh sound) for 8 seconds. Complete this cycle for four full breaths.

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