Last week, I asked a neuroscientist to share her gold-standard sleep routine, and her advice was chock full of science-backed sleep tips. However, if you've tried aromatherapy and herbal tea but still find it difficult to drift off, it's important to know that there are alternative sleep aids to try."Most people will tell you to meditate or do some breathing exercises for 30 minutes before you go to bed — but if they don't work for you then find something that does," says researcher Hannah Shore, Head of Sleep at MattressOnline.I recently asked Shore to share her most surprising sleep tips to help you fall asleep fast, from revisiting your favorite TV show to keeping an unusual item on your nightstand. So if going to bed on time and ditching doom-scrolling still can't help you drift off, it's worth giving these tips a go...Key takeaways: At a glanceBinge-watching new shows will overstimulate you and keep you awake, but watching reruns of familiar, favorite TV shows stops racing thoughts and actually helps you to switch off, ready for sleep.Brush your teeth and wash your face at least one hour before bedtime, so that can just climb into bed as soon as your body is ready for sleep and not wake yourself up again in the bathroom.If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed to prevent your brain from forming a negative association between your bed and trouble sleeping.If your middle insomnia is caused by overheating in bed, keep a damp cloth on your nightstand and apply it to your neck and wrists to cool down fast and drift off quickly.3 unusual tips a sleep expert shares to beat insomnia and fall asleep fast1. Re-watch your favorite TV show