We spend about a third of our lives in sleep.

Sleep is important on so many levels. If only we could sleep like a baby and get some solid restful sleep.

The secret to refreshing sleep is to

wake up naturally after a sustained period of REM. There is wisdom in the old saying that ‘one hour’s sleep before midnight is worth two after.’

Short-term insomnia, which is the commonest type of insomnia afflicts as many as one in three people, can be caused by stressful life events, a poor sleeping environment, and an irregular routine.

Here are my 7 simple steps to better sleep:

1. Set up a strict routine involving regular and adequate sleeping times.

2. Create a relaxing bedtime routine that helps you to wind down before bedtime.

3. Eat a wholesome evening meal with a good balance of protein and complex carbohydrates.

4. Enjoy a hot, non-caffeinated drink such as herbal tea or hot chocolate before going to sleep. In time, your hot drink could serve as a sleeping cue.

5. Sleep in a familiar, dark, and quiet room that is well ventilated and neither too hot nor too cold.

6. Exercise regularly. Exercise reduces anxiety and also helps with other aspects of psychological and physical health.

7. Reduce your overall stress. At the same time, try to do something fulfilling each day. As Leonardo da Vinci said, a well-spent day brings happy sleep.

Don't make the common, almost universal mistake of underestimating sleep. Time spent in sleep is time well spent; almost everyone could do with better, more restorative sleep.

Sleep is the best meditation. —Dalai Lama

Photo Credit: Dakota Corbin on Unsplash