Isn’t it the worst thing when you have to get up bright and early the next morning, but when you go to bed you can’t get to sleep no matter how hard you try? If you’ve been partying as hard as us over the party season chances are your sleep pattern will be well and truly f***ed. Obviously there’s the old “make sure you sleep and wake at the same time” and “exercise during the day” “get yourself into a routine” regular stuff; we know all of that already, and when you want to get to sleep right now godammit, that information doesn’t help.

Here are 12 tips to get to sleep fast, we’ll have you catching some zzz’s in no time.

1. Soak It Off

Take a hot shower/bath before bed, this raises your skins temperature which then quickly drops when you get out – mimicking the actions of the brain that trigger body cooling hormones when it’s time for bed. Add a couple of drops of lavender oil to your bath, and/or moisturise your wet skin with some olive oil scented with a few drops of lavender or camomile oil.

2. Streeehhhh-tch!

Just saying it like that has me yawning – stretch every part of your body starting from your toes up. Lie on your back and focus on each individual body part consciously tensing and relaxing that body part until you’ve reached your head. Start by curling your toes for a count of seven, then relax; next wind your ankles for the same count, then relax. You get the gist.

3. Lavender

A couple of drops of Lavender essential oil will naturally help to relax you. You can throw a couple of drops on a cloth and place it in your pillowcase, you could also use a diffuser. Oooor you could get your partner to give you a relaxing massage with some of that previously mentioned olive/lavender oil mix.

4. Calming Camomile

Have a cup of warm Camomile tea before bed.

5. Switch Off

Refrain from switching the TV back on, looking on Tumblr/Instagram/Facebook, leave the phone/iPad alone, keep the lights off (dim at most). These things mimic the intensity of sunlight and fool the body into thinking it’s nowhere near time for bed.

6. Chill Out

Keep your room cool (not cold, trying to get to sleep in a cold room is not the one), this lowers your core body temperature which initiates sleepiness. I’ve read that 65˚F/18˚C is the best place to start.

7. Music

If you feel like the silence is deafening, throw on some chill out music at a low level – not too low that you have to struggle to hear but not high enough for it to keep you awake. Avoid music that you want to sing/hum along to.

8. Mask It

If you can’t help but look around the room wide eyed in a never ending train of thought, try wearing a sleep mask to keep those peepers closed and block out any light sources.

9. Profilin’

Sleep on your side, this reduces your chance of snoring. Which in turn reduces the chances of you waking yourself up once you’ve finally dozed off.

10. Daydream

Think of something very calming such as a picturesque waterfall, gazing into the clouds. Imagine doing something that you and a loved one both love doing. Imagine your ideal sleeping conditions (maybe on a bed of the softest feathers, or on a bed of clouds).

11. Breathe

Lying on your back do some deep breathing exercises to relax the body and initiate sleep. Breathe in through the nose for four counts, hold for two, then out through the mouth for four counts. Repeat as necessary.

12. Climax

If all else fails, actually this might be something you want to try first – climax. Whether you’re doing it yourself, or you’re getting it on with your lover – take it all the way there and orgasm. Research using PET (positron emission tomography) scans have shown that in order for a person to reach orgasm, a primary requirement is to let go of “all fear and anxiety”. Doing so also tends to be relaxing and brings on the tendency to snooze. Do it!!!

The key to this is to make relaxation your goal rather than sleep itself. Once you’ve mastered these tips to get to sleep fast, the only sleepless nights you’ll be having will be when you’re pounding it out on the dance floor til 7am!