Sleeping Like a Baby: 10 Tips For Sleeping Well

We hear that phrase a lot:  I slept like a baby last night!  People use it to mean that they slept well, but well, MY babies never slept well!  So I would like to sleep like a teenager, I think.
If you have problems falling asleep or staying asleep you are not alone.  When I was in the throws of a horrendous job with an extremely difficult boss, I went almost an entire year with very little sleep.  The stress weighed on me like I was carrying an elephant on my back all day and all night through.  Unfortunately, my only solution to sleeping well, came only after I quit my job and ended my nightmare.
Perhaps your inability to sleep or stay asleep has nothing to do with stress, or it is stress related but at the moment you cannot easily walk away from whats keeping you up at night.  Here are a few tips to help you sleep better.
1. Stick to a schedule .  This is probably the most important tip of all.  It is so important to go to bed and get up at about the same time every day.  Even on the weekends.  By sticking to a regular schedule, your bodys cycle will get into the habit of falling asleep at the time you have trained it to.
2. Turn down your thermostat or open a window .  You will sleep better in a cooler environment than a warmer one.   3. Turn off your electronics .  TV and computers can stimulate your brain in ways that keep sleep at bay.  Reading a book prior to bed time is preferable.
4. Exercise .  Regular exercise will not only help you fall asleep, but you will have more restful sleep.  However, do not exercise right before bed as this might reve you up!  Exercise two hours before bed or earlier.
5. Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol after dinner .  These are stimulants that can keep you awake.
6. Make your bedroom sleep friendly .  This may include using darkening shades, eye covers or earplugs to create a sleep environment that matches your needs.
7. Sleep primarily at night . Daytime naps may disturb nighttime sleep. Limit daytime sleep to 20 to 30 minutes.
8. Choose a comfortable mattress and pillow . Make sure you have a bed thats comfortable.
9. Meditate or create a relaxing bedtime routine .  Do the same things each night to tell your body its time to wind down. This may include meditation, listening to soothing music, taking a warm bath.  Turn down the lights as you relax as this will help ease you into sleep.
10. Go to bed when youre tired .  If sleep does not come within 15 to 20 minutes, get up and do something else until you feel tired.  Dont fret about falling asleep as the stress will only make the problem worse.