This year, I’ll be trying sleeping tricks to see whether they actually improve my insomnia. Check back in on this series, Rest Assured , to see how I get on. So far this year, I’ve taken vitamin D , read in bed , sipped on passionflower tea , and eaten kiwis in hopes of managing my sleep maintenance insomnia . The condition means that while I fall asleep just fine, I struggle to stay asleep once I’ve nodded off: 3am wakeups are all too common. At this point, I’ll try anything to prevent my morning grogginess. And apparently, that includes humming like a bee, a method suggested to me by Ailsa Frank , a sleep expert working with Post Office Life Insurance . Why would humming like a bee help you sleep? I was sceptical when I first heard the advice. But some research has shown that “ bumblebee breathing ,” a yoga technique also known as bhramari pranayama, really can help you nod off. A 2025 paper said it improved sleep initiation, continuity (the part I’m worried about), and depth (hey, that doesn’t hurt either). It may also reduce the impact of sleep disturbances. “It’s a gentle humming exhale that soothes the parasympathetic nervous system by easing tension and, in turn, improves sleep quality,” Frank shared. At this point, I reasoned, why not? How can I “bee hum” to help my sleep? The steps are simple: Cover your ears with your thumbs, Close your eyes with your first three fingers, Breathe in deeply through your nose, Make a bee-like “humming” sound as you exhale, keeping your lips pursed, Repeat up to 10 times. How did it go? As I’ve said, I was a little sceptical at first. But the facts are the facts: I had one fewer 3am wakeup than is usual for me in the work week I tried the method, and my sleep quality was generally pretty great. Also, I was amazed by how comforting I found the technique. Experts have long recommended breathing techniques, like the “ finger breathing ” and “ 4-7-8 ″ method, to lower our heartbeats and relax our nervous systems. This seemed to be no different. And, as the authors of the paper about the “bumblebee breath” method said, it’s non-invasive and completely free. Related... I Tried Reading Before Bed For A Week To See If It Helped My Insomnia Science Says Kiwis Can Improve Your Sleep, So I Tried It To Find Out Science Says A Herbal Tea Can Improve My Sleep Quality, So I Tried It For A Week