If you’re seeking a good night’s sleep, there is, arguably, nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night only to toss and turn for hours. Despite being a common experience, many people find it terribly difficult to doze off again, especially if their mind starts running wild.

There are tons of techniques out there — from practicing deep breathing exercises to reading calming stories — but what works for one person can differ from what does the trick for another. That’s why it’s crucial to experiment to find a solution that helps you relax and drift back off.

To give you a head start, we asked five people to share their very best tips for falling back asleep — and tapped a sleep psychologist to break down why these tricks work so well. Here’s what they said:

1. Practice deep-breathing exercises.

Meg S., 42, has struggled with an overactive mind for years, especially in the middle of the night and during times of stress. To fall back asleep in the wee hours of the morning, she inhales to the count of six then exhales to the count of six — a strategy that’s so effective, she never stays awake for long. “That’s not to say there aren’t nights that I’m so distracted by my thoughts that I forget to decide to do the breathing, but it’s never failed me,” she told HuffPost.

Jaime Tartar, the chair of the psychology and neuroscience department at Nova Southeastern University in Florida, isn’t surprised this tactic works so well for Meg — deep breathing is known to help the body transition from fight-or-flight mode (which energises you) to rest-and-digest mode (which relaxes you). “This physiological shift helps lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure and calm the mind,” she said.

2. Read calm, low-stakes........

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