How To Fall Asleep Faster 3 Unexpected Strategies

Are you wondering how to fall asleep faster? It’s crazy how tough falling asleep can feel sometimes, even though it’s a totally natural, biological function.

A few years ago I went through a pretty tough period of severe insomnia. I was struggling with every aspect of sleep. I lay awake for hours on end, watching the clock roll on. When I finally fell asleep, I woke again just an hour or two later. When you’re having trouble sleeping, everything in life can start to feel really heavy. You can read more about my personal experience with this problem here>>

When I was struggling with my sleep, I researched and read every sleep resource I could find. I scoured the internet. I bought lots of books, did self-guided CBT-I (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) and tried lots of supplements and therapies. Dozens of things I tried didn’t work. But, a few things really helped—and they aren’t the typical, run-of-the-mill suggestions you’ll find on google. If you’re looking for help with your sleep, whether you want to fall asleep faster, sleep more deeply, or improve the timing of your sleep, I’ve got some great tips to share from my own personal experience with insomnia.

1) Get Educated About Sleep

If you’re struggling with your sleep or you want to fall asleep faster, the first step to consider is getting educated about sleep. We spew a lot of scary lies and half-truths in our society about sleep. That misinformation can make it even more difficult to get quality sleep and may cause unnecessary anxiety. When you’re struggling with sleep, the first things you’ll find on google are lots of articles about the detrimental effects of insomnia, and how important it is to sleep well. NOT HELPFUL!

When I had trouble sleeping, I actually believed that if I “couldn’t fall asleep” I would die. That lie spiraled out of control and led to severe anxiety. Far from helping me, this unnecessary stress about sleep was making it WAY harder to get any shut-eye!

One night at 2:00 AM in the midst of my insomnia, I impulse-bought this book on Kindle: “The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It” by Chris Winter, M.D. This guy is a medical doctor who specializes in sleep and I was seriously blown away with the insight he had to share. Every night when I couldn’t sleep, I’d get out of bed and read this book until my eyes were so tired they were practically closing on their own.

“Sleep is Inevitable”

There are some really amazing take-aways here, but for me, the most revolutionary concept he taught is this: Sleep is inevitable. When we give our bodies opportunities to rest and don’t sabotage ourselves, sleep is a biological function that tends to regulate itself. According to Dr. Winter, If you feel like you’ll never sleep again, don’t worry, YOU WILL! It’s inevitable! If you feel like you literally aren’t sleeping, odds are, you really are—and what’s actually going on is an issue with sleep perception (your brain isn’t properly recognizing the difference between waking and sleeping.)

In fact, sleep science shows us insomniacs always tend to UNDERESTIMATE the amount of sleep they’re really getting, and OVERESTIMATE the effect that a restless night will have on their daily life. That stress and anxiety surrounding sleep is probably 50% of the issue for most insomniacs.

Of course he shares dozens of tips to optimize sleep and fall asleep faster, from routines and sleep hygiene to proper light exposure to temporary sleep restriction—but the most powerful gift he gave me in this book was permission to STOP WORRYING SO MUCH. When I was able to relax and trust my body’s innate ability and need to sleep, I unlocked the door to my recovery.

Whether you read this book or another credible book, or seek out professional help to fall asleep faster, I hope you find similar relief when you get educated about sleep, like I did.

2) Utilize the Power of Holistic Therapies

There are so many holistic therapies out there that help people fall asleep faster and sleep better. Before you write them off, consider this: trouble sleeping often has to do with an imbalance in the nervous system, a.k.a. fight-or-flight mode. The mainstream medical world doesn’t offer treatments for this. Your doctor may refer you to a therapist if you’re feeling stressed out. She may suggest lifestyle changes, or prescribe a sedative or sleeping pill to mask the symptoms and knock you out. But ultimately, the nervous system is largely a medical mystery.

The good news is, many alternative and holistic therapies focus on treating the nervous system and bringing it back to a state balance. We call this the parasympathetic state —in which your body is able to rest and digest. Some examples include nervous system-focused chiropractic care, acupuncture, massage therapy, and many forms of emotional and energy healing. Naturopaths and functional medicine doctors often have fantastic insight into what is stressing your nervous system and keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep. Is it a nutritional deficiency? Is it related to excess stress? Diet? Your gut microbiome? These holistic practitioners work with aspects of the nervous system every day, with virtually every patient.

Acupuncture is a great first step if you’re having trouble sleeping, or want to fall asleep faster.

Acupuncture addresses energetic imbalances in your body. It helps your body move out of “fight or flight” and into “rest and digest.” It can also increase levels of calming neurotransmitters like serotonin and melatonin, naturally. Find a practitioner in your area, here.

Supplementation

Talk to your practitioner about supplementation. Magnesium is an essential mineral which most adults are deficient in. Our bodies use quickly deplete magnesium stores when we’re stressed. Supplementing could be a helpful ally in getting better sleep, but ultimately, there are hundreds of vitamins, minerals, herbs and nootropics that can help improve sleep, without causing dependency or leading to dangerous side effects. Work with your practitioner to find the right combination for your unique needs.

When I was struggling with my sleep, I added magnesium, methylated B-vitamins, a blend of traditional Chinese herbs, GABA, L-Theanine and 5-HTP.

3) Use a CES Device like the CES Ultra

My final and most important recommendation is to use a CES device, like the CES Ultra. You’re probably wondering what the heck a CES device is—and that’s okay! Stick with me and I’ll explain WHAT CES Therapy is and HOW it improves our sleep and helps us fall asleep faster.

Let me lead with the fact that the CES Ultra is an FDA-registered treatment for anxiety and insomnia. It is backed by decades of research, has a robust record of safety and efficacy and was found to have a statistically significant positive impact on anxiety, insomnia and depression in a Meta-Analysis conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health. In other words, this isn’t some woo-woo voodoo magic. This thing is legit.

When I was having trouble sleeping, my Dad (who’s a chiropractor and acupuncturist) remembered an old device he used to give us kids when we were having trouble sleeping. As kids, we called it the “sleep machine.” He found it in a drawer—a wallet-sized cream box that read “CES Ultra,” complete with 2 black wires and little clips.

I used it as directed, and within a week, my sleep (which had been absolutely horrible for over a month) was basically back to normal. I continued to improve rapidly and within one month, I was sleeping just like my old self again, and my anxiety was gone, too.

How Does a CES Device Work?

My Dad explained that CES therapy has been around for decades and has been extensively studied for its potential to improve anxiety, insomnia and depression. Essentially, CES devices like the CES Ultra stimulate specific areas of the brain with a minuscule, virtually undetectable electrical current. This “micro” current runs at a specific frequency which helps reorganize electrical activity in the brain. When electrical activity is balanced and consistent, the brain is able to produce correct levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin, melatonin, and B-endorphins, all on its own—without drugs or supplementation.

CES is incredibly safe, painless, side-effect free, and non-habit forming. It’s safe and effective enough for you to use from the comfort of your own home. The best part is, after you stop using CES, the chemical balance you’ve achieved remains, because the treatment is cumulative in nature. In other words, CES helps retrain your brain to return to optimal function and chemical balance all on its own.

CES devices use either electrode pads or ear clips (or both!). Simply attach the ear clips to your ears or place the electrode pads as recommended by the device instructions, turn your device on, and set the stimulation level to a comfortable level for you. You don’t have to feel it for it to work—but feeling a gentle tingling is acceptable.

How Often Should I Use CES?

At-home CES devices are generally very user-friendly. To create a treatment plan, you can follow the instructions of your healthcare provider, or the instructions that come with your device.

We recommend using your CES Ultra 1-2 times per day for 30-45 minutes for the first 2 weeks. Then when you start sleeping better, you can slowly decrease sessions to once per day

for 30 minutes. Eventually, you may be able to use CES only as maintenance a few times a week, or whenever you feel like you need it. There is no risk of overdose and CES therapy is non-habit forming, so you don’t have to worry about using it too much.

How to Choose a CES Device

Always choose an FDA-registered CES device. This designation signifies that the device has undergone extensive safety testing and passes the FDA’s strict standards for both safety and efficacy. This means it’s probably not a good idea to purchase a device off a site like Amazon or Alibaba. Many devices available on such sites are knock-off versions that have not been thoroughly tested.

The CES Ultra is the only CES unit currently on the market with the proven technology and configuration employed in more than 100 scientific and research studies, including the Meta-Analysis conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health.

It is one of just a few FDA-registered CES Units shown to be safe and effective. And the best part is? The CES Ultra costs less than the average price of 3 talk therapy sessions.

What if you could start feeling better in days, and see incredible changes in just a matter of weeks? Research shows that such changes are possible, even probable, with the CES Ultra. I really hope it will make a difference for you, like it did for me.

Try it for yourself today, risk free. If the CES Ultra doesn’t make a difference, you can return it for a full refund within 60 days. What do you have to lose? Click the image below!

I can’t wait to hear your success story!

**This article is written for informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. Always work with a qualified healthcare provider when making decisions about your health and wellness.

-Kara