Eight hours a day is what is recommended, but most American adults fall short of sleep almost every night. That’s just an average; some people require less and some require more.
Although you may be able to function with less than eight hours, you probably aren’t functioning at peak efficiency. Lack of sleep affects your mental capacity and decision making. Prolonged periods with a lack of sleep can increase your stress levels. You may also notice unexplained weight gain.
How to get a good night’s sleep
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Make bedtime an appointment
Put it on your schedule. Everything else in your life is on a schedule, why not sleep? The more often you’re able to get to bed at a certain time, the more your body will expect it.
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Avoid caffeine in the evening
The more you can cut out in the daytime, the better, too.
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Get regular exercise
Physical activity helps to tire you out, and it doesn’t really matter if you exercise in the morning or at night.
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Give yourself some wind down time
Turn off the phone, TV and computer a half hour before bed time. These all stimulate the brain. The object here is to shut down.
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Try to wake up without an alarm clock
This is impossible for some, but if you wake up without an alarm, chances are that you probably got the amount of sleep you needed to be fully rested.
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Clear your mind
Even if you’re giving yourself ample time to wind down, you still may have thoughts swirling around. Try writing them down in a journal to get rid of them.
Improving your sleep habits can have effects on your overall health and well-being. If you notice that you’re not sleeping enough, make sure you’re taking steps to get more rest. For more information about sleep and how to get more of it, take a look at the National Sleep Foundation (link to http://www.sleepfoundation.org) website.
Roger Sells Bonita 