For some it's a large meal or an epic game of Monopoly or falling rain while others can count on Match of the Day or the latest instalment of Star Wars – to send them to sleep.
They are among A poll of 2,000 UK adults has revealed the 50 things a poll of 2,000 adults said were most likely to carry them off to the land of nod.
Some are welcome invitations to slumber at the end of the long day – like luxury bedding, a cup of camomile tea or a hot bath.
But some sleep triggers come at the most inconvenient moments – with tedious work meetings, Powerpoint presentations and university lectures all making the list.
It also emerged 87 per cent of people questioned have nights where they struggle to sleep, with three-quarters wishing they had more sleep.
Sammy Margo, sleep expert at Slumberdown which commissioned the research, said: "It's interesting how many fun and unusual things made the list, a cat purring and a ticking clock are certainly new to me, but I can understand how these sounds could be soothing for some people.
"The thing that stood out for me was how the top three things most likely to send us Brits to sleep all revolve around the bedroom itself.
"A dark room, a freshly made bed and luxury bedding are all things I would recommend to help create that sleep zone which becomes your night-time sanctuary."
A dark room came top of the snooze chart, followed by freshly made or luxury bedding, reading a book and a large meal.
A nice cuddle came sixth, with a hot bath, a fleecy blanket, hot water bottle and the sound of the TV on in the background completing the top ten.
A long film, travelling in a car or on a train and the sound of a cat purring also featured within the top 20. Sport didn't fare so well with cricket, golf, snooker and Formula 1 all featuring within the top 50.
Watching Match of the Day, horse racing and football results shows like Final Score also had millions of eyelids fluttering.
Camomile and herbal tea, Question Time, shopping channels and The Antiques Roadshow also leave Britons feeling slightly sleepy.
The study also found that while a lucky 11 per cent find it easy to fall asleep, and can sleep anywhere, more than a third find it difficult to nod off.
And the average adult said they experience less than seven hours of sleep a night – well under the recommended eight.
For half of people in Britain, a lack of sleep has resulted in more than just feeling tired for the day with 28 per cent saying it has led to rows with their partner, while another 20 per cent have made a mistake at work.
Others admitted tiredness led to rows with their children or work colleagues, falling asleep at work or even an accident of some kind.
Slumberdowns Sammy Margo added: "At this time of year many of us are struggling to get a good night's sleep because of the dark mornings and short days.
"There are also a range of snooze foods which contain high levels of Tryptophan which will help to promote a good night's sleep.
"They include bananas which is practically a 'sleeping pill in a peel', turkey, almonds, oats, marmite type substances, dairy products and soya products."
Top 50 things most likely to send you to sleep
1. A dark room
2. A freshly made bed
3. Luxury bedding
4. Reading a book
5. A large meal
6. A cuddle
7. A hot bath
8. A fleecy blanket
9. A hot water bottle
10. The sound of a TV show in the background
11. The sound of rain
12. Your hair/arm/back being stroked
13. Watching a long film
14. A warm office
15. Sitting on a train
16. Sitting in a car
17. Smell of lavender
18. Work meetings
19. A ticking clock
20. A cat purring
21. Political party broadcasts
22. Classic music
23. Cricket
24. Powerpoint presentations
25. Reality TV
26. A burning candle
27. Golf
28. Camomile tea
29. Snooker
30. Herbal tea
31. A Star Wars film
32. Formula One
33. College or university lectures
34. An episode of Downton Abbey
35. Match of the Day
36. Question Time
37. A long game of Monopoly
38. The shipping forecast on Radio 4
39. Shopping channels
40. The Antiques Roadshow
41. A Lord of the Rings film
42. Revising for an exam
43. Prime Minister's Questions
44. Horse racing on the TV
45. Final Score/Soccer Saturday (Football results programmes)
46. Whale music
47. Newsnight
48. Reading with a child/listening to a child read
49. Incense
50. Writing an essay