TikTok’s Most Popular Sleep Hacks

With many of us leading busy, fast-paced lives, a good night’s sleep is essential but can sometimes be hard to achieve. In the search for better sleep, social media users are turning to online platforms for quick fixes, and luckily, there’s no shortage of ideas. TikTok, in particular, is packed with videos offering tips and tricks for drifting off faster and enjoying a more restful, uninterrupted night.

To find out what’s really helping people drift off, we analysed TikTok data to uncover the most popular sleep hacks.

In recent years, social media has become a useful platform for advice, including tips for achieving the perfect slumber.

TikTok, in particular, has become a go-to hub for sleep tips, with thousands turning to the platform to find and share their own sleep solutions. The demand is clear, with over 36,000 posts now using the hashtag #sleephacks. From soothing ASMR and calming routines to creative (and sometimes quirky) sleep remedies, TikTok is full of inventive ideas for drifting off more easily and enjoying a deeper, more restful night’s sleep.

To uncover the trending techniques, we analysed TikTok data to reveal the most popular sleep hacks based on the number of posts using the method’s hashtag.

First up, and no surprise, is ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response), which has soared in popularity in recent years. This sensory response causes a tingling sensation that many find satisfying and relaxing, perfect for winding down for sleep.

From personal attention videos to mouth sounds to roleplay like hair brushing, there’s bound to be an ASMR niche that meets your relaxation preferences. These creative videos have gained traction on TikTok, with an incredible 38.7 million posts using #ASMR, proving the social media platform’s top sleep hack is a go-to for many users seeking restful slumber.

Take a look at the example below on TikTok:

@asmrberlinn

extra tingly slower vid fo today💯 #fyp #foryou #asmr #fastandaggressiveasmr #asmrvideo #fastasmr #asmrsounds #personalattention #mouthsounds

♬ original sound – berlin

Acupressure, a traditional Chinese medicine technique, has made its way onto TikTok and is the second most popular sleep hack on the platform. The practice involves applying pressure to specific points on the body to relieve pain and promote relaxation. TikTok users swear by this method to achieve a deep state of relaxation needed for sleep, with over 100,000 posts using #acupressure. TikTokers have specifically praised rubbing behind the ear using two fingers to calm the body and promote relaxation.

Check out the TikTok below to see how you can try the technique:

@drfelicechan

Insomnia acupressure #tcm #insomniac #sleephabits

♬ original sound – Drfelicechan

With 96,800 posts for #mouthtape, mouth taping earns its spot in TikTok’s top three most popular sleep hacks. The trending technique involves covering your mouth with tape as you sleep to encourage nasal breathing. This method is aimed at reducing snoring and improving overall sleep quality by restricting mouth breathing, which limits your exposure to allergens, and promotes deeper breathing for a relaxed sleep. While the sleep hack lacks scientific evidence, its ranking in the top three proves it’s popular among TikTokers who value a good night’s sleep.

Watch the video below or read our article on mouth taping for sleep for more information:

@laurynbosstick

I will never in my life go to sleep without taping my mouth shut 🤐 #mouthtaping #mouthtape #sleeptips #beautysleep

♬ luther – Kendrick Lamar & SZA

Many TikTokers find that gentle background noise helps them drift off to sleep. Whether it’s nature sounds or white, pink, or brown noise, plenty of soothing sounds help you sleep more peacefully. The trending sleep hack has accumulated 35,500 posts for #sleepsounds, demonstrating the demand for calming noises to help you wind down. From escaping external noise or breaking an unsettling silence, TikTok users believe it’s the perfect solution to a good night’s rest.

Take a look at the example TikTok:

@alexishatestexas

i have to listen to this to fall asleep

♬ Little Life – Cordelia

Blue light glasses have gained popularity on TikTok, with the viral sleep hack mentioned in over 30,000 posts. The tactic is part of the sleepmaxxing trend, focused on wellness for quality sleep. Trending advice includes reducing blue light exposure in the evenings to help you fall asleep more easily, a popular technique among TikTokers, making it worthy of a spot in our top five. Those who enjoy an evening scroll and a good night’s sleep should give this sleep hack a go.

Watch this TikTok for more information:

@drreza_t

Who has blue light glasses? 👓 would love to hear your experience with them! #bluelightglases #blueligh #circadianrhythm

♬ original sound – Dr. Reza T

This hack is perfect for those who like a cosy sleep setup. Unlike regular covers, weighted blankets apply gentle pressure that helps soothe the nervous system, promoting calmness and relaxation for a better night’s sleep. 23,000 posts use #weightedblanket, highlighting it as one of the most popular sleep hacks on the social media platform. While weighted blankets have been around before TikTok, the social platform has certainly brought them back into the spotlight as a bedtime staple.

Learn more about how weighted and heated blankets support mental health on the Sleep Matters Blog and have a look at this TikTok to see how a weighted blanket could help you achieve better rest:

@sophia.panella

a game changer #weightedblanket #weightedblanketsleep #weightedblankets #weightedblanketcheck #mentalhealth

♬ original sound – SOPHIA PANELLA

The sleepy girl mocktail, coined by TikTok users, quickly became a trend and was mentioned in over 12,000 posts. Recommended as a pre-bed drink, claimed to encourage a better night’s sleep, it consists of magnesium powder, tart cherry juice, and soda or sparkling water. The beverage’s ingredients, magnesium and cherry juice, have sleep-enhancing properties. Cherry contains melatonin, a natural hormone that controls the sleep cycle, and magnesium encourages relaxation; the perfect recipe for snoozing. Some TikTokers take it a step further and opt for prebiotic soda for a health boost. Drinking the concoction around an hour before bed is recommended to experience the full benefits.

Learn how to make the sleepy girl mocktail in the video below and discover more bedtime drinks to help you sleep in our handy article:

@doctorsood

Have you tried this?

♬ original sound – DoctorSood, M.D.

Next up, and probably the most amusing, is the drunken monkey method. This sleep hack is a gentle stretching exercise and requires taking a wide stance and slowly swinging your hips from side to side while moving your arms in a circular motion, imitating a ‘tipsy monkey’. The technique is said to improve blood flow, promote muscle relaxation, and reduce stress and anxiety, helping your body wind down for a truly restorative sleep. Many TikTokers have attempted the sleep hack, and with 4,487 posts using #drunkenmonkey, it’s clear that this stretching exercise is worth a try.

Watch the TikTok video to see how to do it:

@jakecrossmanhealth

I know I look like a drunken monkey 🙈 #sleeptips #sleepbetter #howtosleepbetter #sleep #sleephack

♬ original sound – jakecrossmanhealth

Like cognitive shuffling, a mental exercise involving thinking of random, unrelated words to distract your mind and bring you to the present moment, the alphabet game is a favoured sleep hack according to our TikTok findings, boasting over 3,000 posts using #alphabetgame. This technique is exactly what you think it is: a ‘game’ where you go through the alphabet and think of a word beginning with each letter, all aimed at quietening your mind and helping you drift off. The question is, how many have made it to the end of the alphabet before dozing off?

Take a look at the example below on TikTok:

@emilymeditates

Replying to @Hillary this is gold! 🏆 Seems like any category would work! Try it & let us know if it works for you! #sleeptips #cantsleep #insomnia #sleephelp

♬ original sound – Emily Kessler – Meditation

Lettuce water secures a spot among TikTok’s 10 most popular sleep hacks. This beverage-related trend involves adding boiling water to a cup of lettuce, sometimes with extras like peppermint, and drinking it before bed. TikTokers believe that the lactucarium, a milky fluid with sedative properties, found in lettuce, will help them drift off. As #lettucewater accumulates 1,665 posts on TikTok, it’s apparent that many are turning to this natural remedy for a sleep aid. However, the low concentration of lactucarium found in the leafy green vegetable and the lack of scientific evidence raise questions about the effectiveness of this viral sleep hack. We explore whether the trend actually works in our full article: Does lettuce water really help you sleep?

Watch the TikTok below to see how to make this leafy drink:

@fairway_foodie

#romainelettuce #water who knew?? #lettucewater #sleep #food #xyzbca #viral #foryou #fyp #lactucarium

♬ Spongebob Tomfoolery – Dante9k Remix – David Snell

While TikTok has an array of innovative sleep hacks, it’s important to note that not every hack may be effective, and sometimes going back to basics works best. That’s why our experts recommend the following tips for a better night’s sleep:

1. A bedtime routine – This is one of the most crucial parts of a good night’s sleep. It helps regulate your body’s internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up. What you do before bed is also important; winding down for sleep with activities like reading, journaling, and enjoying a cup of warm herbal tea will quieten the mind and help you drift off into deep sleep more easily.
2. Get some daylight – Lighting can also affect sleep. Maximise natural light during the day and embrace darkness in the evening. This will help the body release melatonin at night and regulate your circadian rhythm.
3. Reduce stimulants – Avoid alcohol, smoking, caffeine and late-night snacks before bed, as these can disrupt your sleep.
4. Optimise your bedroom for sleep – Having a relaxed space is just as important to encourage a peaceful night’s sleep. Ensure the bedroom is at a comfortable temperature with minimal exposure to external light and noise, and opt for a quality bed and mattress.

Overall, while TikTok’s abundance of sleep hacks may prove effective for some, a good bedtime routine and the right sleep environment are the best way to ensure a quality night’s rest.

We analysed TikTok and publications, including Healthline and the Daily Mirror, and reviewed a range of trending sleep hacks to compile an initial seed list. We examined the associated hashtag for each hack and calculated the number of posts it appeared in. This analysis revealed the ten most popular sleep hacks on TikTok.