Is TikTok’s ‘brain tapping’ hack really the key to a good night’s sleep?

There’s nothing quite like a good night’s sleep, but these days, it can feel pretty hard to come by. According to a 2022 study, as many as one in seven Brits get less than five hours of sleep each night. And that’s not all — our quality of our sleep is decreasing, too, with young people increasingly suffering from poor sleep quality thanks to their screens.

In the desperate search for that coveted eight hours, more and more people are turning to viral social media sleep hacks for answers. At this point, we’ve tried just about everything. There was the wrist rubbing trick, the Scandinavian co-sleeping hack and, of course, the trend that saw us icing the vagus nerve before bed. And now, a brand new sleeping hack is making the rounds: say hello to brain tapping.

With over a million views, brain tapping is quickly becoming TikTok’s most popular sleeping trend. As more and more of us seek out a blissful, uninterrupted night of sleep, we can’t help but wonder — could brain tapping really be the answer?

What exactly is brain tapping, anyway?

Brain tapping, also known as “Emotional Freedom Techniques” (EFT) tapping, is a technique that has its roots in Chinese Medicine. “It involves tapping on specific points on the body while repeating affirmations,” explains Tyler Woodward, a health and wellness expert at Eden’s Gate. “It aims to alleviate stress, anxiety, and pain, as well as promote relaxation and sleep.”

Although brain tapping can be performed in a number of different ways, on TikTok, most people are promoting one specific technique. “The brain tapping sleep hack on TikTok focuses on tapping three points on the face, two points on the chest, and one point on the head, coupled with affirmations like ‘I am relaxed’ or ‘I am falling asleep,’” says Woodward. “This tapping is believed to release stress and anxiety, while the affirmations aid in relaxation and sleep promotion.”

In one viral video that now has over 6 million views, Fouad Boustani, founder of MentallyGreat, explains that your can “trick your brain to fall asleep faster” using the brain tapping technique. “Our brain loves connecting with rhythmic patterns, so if you create a fast pattern, then slow it down, it slows your brain activity, which facilitates sleep,” he claims.

He then shows his technique of quickly tapping before gradually slowing the tapping along with the breath.

In another video, neuro-somatic coach Margy Feldhun explained that EFT tapping can be a great way to reduce stress and regulate the nervous system. “It’s super simple, you can’t mess it up,” she says, before demonstrating the technique.

She then begins her routine by rhythmically tapping the top of her head while slowing down her breath. “I like to think of this point as connecting me to my higher intelligence,” she says. Then then proceeds to tap just above her eyebrows, on her temples, under her eyes, under her nose, on her chin, on her collar bones, on the side of her ribs and on her inner wrists. Feldhun recommends listening to soothing music or repeating a meditative mantra while going through the tapping process.

Does brain tapping really work?

The short answer is, sometimes.

“[It doesn’t] necessarily work on its own,” says Kerry Davies, a former nurse and founder of Sleep Fixer, “but it alleviates anxiety which is a major cause of sleep insomnia. It therefore is something I would use in helping someone suffering from anxiety and sleep issues.”

According to Davies, the tapping motion coupled with deep breathing sends calming signals to the brain. “It is a bit like acupuncture without the needles,” she says. “You focus on tapping the Chinese meridian points. The idea is that the body’s energy travels along these specific pathways and by tapping certain points on these pathways you are stimulating them and releasing energy.”

As Davies notes, studies have shown that EFT can help with insomnia. “It is something I practice and absolutely rate as a form of anxiety release,” she adds.

Woodward agrees that this hack could prove to be helpful. “A study in the journal Sleep found that brain tapping reduced sleep onset time and increased deep sleep duration,” he tells us. “However, further research is necessary to validate these findings.”

However, as with most TikTok hacks, Woodward warns that not every video on the platform features the correct technique. “It is crucial to seek instructions from a reliable source to learn the proper technique for brain tapping,” he says. “Given that there are multiple approaches to this practice, some methods may prove more effective than others. It is also advisable to consult with your doctor before incorporating any new form of sleep aid into your routine, including brain tapping.”