How to Get More Sleep

Learn how to get more sleep. Includes information on how to cut bad habits that are robbing you from sleep and causing insomnia.

How to Get More Sleep

If you think you are getting enough sleep, you may be wrong, because you're most likely not.  Several studies have now shown that most adults have not been getting enough sleep.

"Half an hour short of sleep won't hurt me."  Most have this attitude, however you have to be careful especially if you loosing sleep becomes a habit. 

Lack of sleep each night accumulates in time, and can lead to health or emotional problems. Every half or even only a quarter of an hour adds up and takes away from your bodys health.

Some may think that the lack of sleep the night before is compensated the next night you get enough sleep.  The fact is, it doesn't get compensated.  What you owe the night before in sleep time remains in the IOU list which adds up each time you lack sleep.

How Much Sleep is Enough?

How do you know how much sleep is enough for your body?  It varies depending on the person, however it is ideal to sleep somewhere between seven to eight hours a nite as this is usually enough for the average person.  The younger you are the more sleep you need, and the more you age, the less sleep you need.

Sleep and You Health 

Sleep is vital to your health and functionality. This is why you really have to get back your sleeping time if you are depriving yourself of it. 

Bad Sleeping Habits 

We have complied a list of possible sleep robbers, bad sleeping habits that you can kick to get back your sleeping time:

Sleeping Late - A Bad Sleeping Habit #1

The bad habit of sleeping late starts in a subtle way often.  Most people hardly notice doing it, until it becomes a continual habit. 

How can you stop sleeping late? First you have to identify the cause of your late sleeping.  If you cannot pinpoint the exact cause why, then they may be small things or chores that are adding up.  Little time-consuming chores you spend on can be cut down. If you add the minutes up, they can add up to an hour or more which you could devote instead to sleeping.

This problem may not be corrected right away; it would be better to adjust gradually over time.  Once you are able to find the time to retire earlier than usual, it may be difficult to fall asleep at once because of the change in pattern.  Don't worry, this is normal and only in the first few nights.  Once you have adjusted to your new habit, you will eventually find it easier to fall asleep early.

Sleeping Aids or Preventers - Bad Sleeping Habit #2

You have to begin to stop your dependency on sleeping aids like alcohol or sleep inducing pills if you are using them.  Although these sleeping aids may help you sleep, they can cause frequent wakeful periods and interrupt your sleeping patterns.

Worries - Bad Sleeping #3

If worries and concerns are keeping you up and preventing you from getting asleep, try this method:

Get a pen (a marker would be better) and a piece of paper (big enough to fill in you concern) and write your concerns on it.  Lay it on your side table or tape it on the wall.  You don't go to sleep with your robe on, so it's like taking your robe off before retiring.  In the morning, throw out the paper.  Sounds weird but for some, it works.

Phones - Bad Sleeping Habit #4

A phone or mobile near your bad can be very handy particularly in an emergency but it can also be affecting your sleep especially if people are calling you late.  Take that phone away from your ear, and if you need to keep it, set it on silent mode.  Depending on your line of business or profession, that phone may or may be not be that important for night calls.  Should its presence fall short of its importance, you're better off without it during the night.  That once in a lifetime call which you classify as an emergency may not be worth all the nights you are awakened by a wrong number or a nuisance call.  The possibility that someone might call in the middle of the night when you're asleep results to an agitated feeling that alters your sleep pattern, keeping you half asleep subconsciously.

Your brain monitors and maintains a record of all the hours you owe it in terms of shortage in sleep.  One way or the other, you'll have to pay for it.  You should be thankful it doesn't charge interest or penalties for late payments.  Try your best to pull yourself out of sleep deficits.

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