Top Tips for Getting a Good Night's Sleep

Stay Away from Liquids and Tobacco, but Get More Sun and Blankets

Do you feel like you've been dragging all day today? Do you often feel tired during the day? There's probably a very simple reason for that fatigue. You didn't get enough sleep last night. It's a chronic problem with an increasing number of people. And the effects of not getting enough sleep only multiply. For instance, how often have you had to cancel an engagement because you were just too darn tired? Or how many times have you had to put off playing a game with your kid because you didn't have the energy? How often have you been too tired for sex? Now that's tired!

The following are the top tips for getting more sleep. You don't have to engage them all, feel free to pick and choose. Chances are, however, that the more of these tips you follow, the more sleep you'll get. Andthe more sleep you get, the more...well, you know.

SCHEDULE YOUR LIFE.
Yeah, it's boring. Who really wants to stick to a schedule all day long. Well, it doesn't have to be all day. But try getting up at the same time every day-including weekends and holidays-and going to bed at the same time every night. Nothing can help you find sleep better than your body's internal clock kicking in. After only a few weeks, you'll probably find yourself yawning as your sleep time nears even if you don't feel particularly tired. The more closely you follow a nighttime routine, the better it works. Try to watch the same thing on TV every night like a syndicated rerun. Or try reading a really long novel that will take you a year to get through. It really works.

EAT EARLY.
Part of that schedule should include NOT eating late. If possible, try to get your dinner done before 7:00 PM so that the digestive process can proceed and end before climbing into bed. This will allow you to get through all the distracting gastrointestinal problems that can interrupt your sleep. It will also give you enough time to bypass conditions such as heartburn, hiccups, acid reflux and the like which can keep you awake. You might even get to bed after a big meal without feeling bloated.