Are you tired of the constant twice-annual changing of clocks? Is it impacting your ability to get a good night's sleep? Know that you are hardly alone. And whether you are a fan of moving the clock forward or back, it seems hardly the remedy needed for an exhausted nation battling fatigue.

As recently reported by Fox News Digital health editor Melissa Rudy, "in 2023, the phrase 'I'm tired' reached its highest frequency in Google searches." This same report goes on to say that results of a study of 9,500 people from 10 U.S. cities and 10 U.K. cities, aged between 18 and 65, show that most adults don't get enough sleep and that 78% said a lack of sleep is negatively affecting their mental health. Most adults require at least seven hours of sleep for better mental health, yet only 1 in 3 get that amount. We are not just talking about older Americans here; the report notes that people under age 40 for various reasons are tossing and turning with sleep-related struggles.

There has long been an entire industry out there touting various strategies and solutions for the sleep deprived. According to statista.com, in 2019, the U.S. sleep economy was valued at an estimated $79 billion and forecast to be reach $95 billion by 2024.

Says another Fox News report by Christine Rousselle, in the mix of treatments is a method used by the U.S. military in World War II. Known as the "military sleep technique," it was used by U.S. Navy pilots to relax and fall asleep and is said to work even under very high-stress conditions. The technique was the subject of a recent TikTok post that went viral.

It describes a process where a person imagines a scanner going down their body from top to bottom, stopping to relax every muscle along the way. Once the would-be sleeper has let go of tension in their body, they are then directed to do the same with their mind, clearing it of thought.

Dr. Alex Dimitriu is the founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in California. As he explains to Fox News Digital, there is some legitimacy to this approach. "Visualization has been shown in studies to be better than other time-tested sleep techniques, such as counting sheep," he says. "The belief here is that sleep and dreams are a very visual activity, and the way to get into dreaming is to actually start the visualization process as you are falling asleep." He also points out that while this technique may help some to fall asleep quicker, there is no simple solution to better sleep. "While this technique may help some, it's not going to help everyone," he adds.

According to Dr. Shelby Harris, director of sleep health for the website Sleepopolis and a licensed clinical psychologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, "There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that the military sleep method is effective in helping people fall asleep in two minutes, but there is evidence to suggest that relaxation techniques, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing, can be helpful for improving sleep quality and quantity." He also strongly advises that people follow a regular sleep schedule as well as a relaxing bedtime routine.

As noted by the Sleep Foundation, "sleep offers the body and brain time to restore and recover, affecting nearly every tissue in the body. Sleep deprivation increases the risk of health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Prolonged sleep deprivation can also affect concentration and other cognitive functions ... Diet, exercise, and sleep are three pillars of a healthy life." Just improving one of these lifestyle factors can help people lead longer lives. Imagine what can happen if we improve all three? How we sleep. How we eat. How we exercise.

According to the Sleep Foundation, "while trying to manage a busy, hectic life, it is understandable to want to prioritize activities that provide the most benefit. Unfortunately, diet, exercise, and sleep are so deeply intertwined, it is not possible to say that one is more important than the others."

Says Dr. Chris Mosunic, a clinical psychologist and chief clinical officer for sleep meditation app Calm, and author of the aforementioned "Snooze Report," the impacts upon people's sleep schedules during the time change can be more severe than traveling between time zones. At least with "jet lag" people process the shift while driving or flying to a different time zone, which "actually helps them acclimate," making it less disruptive.

In another recent time change report, Anthony Robledo of USA Today relays a few tips experts offer on how to get consistently sound sleep. He suggests trying what is called "reverse alarm strategy" where you set an alarm toward bedtime that reminds you to wind down by limiting screen time use and to put calming music on. The next suggestion is called "temperature paradox," which entails "soaking your feet into warm water close to bedtime" to help get your body into a more natural clock so you will start to wind down." This is followed by the option called "limit intense activity," which is the avoidance of being physically active, listening to loud music or watching an action movie before retiring as such activity can make it difficult to wind down. It is also suggested going to trusted sources such as the National Sleep Foundation for further tips on maintaining a healthy sleep routine.

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