• Use light to your advantage: Expose yourself to light during the day, and limit light exposure in the evening.
• Do not nap too close to your regular bedtime.
• Get enough food and fluids, but not too much or too soon before bedtime.
• Exercise regularly—but not too close to bedtime.
Years ago, I saw a quip with the question: How much sleep does the average adult need? The answer was: Five more minutes. But that is not enough. We need to get back to a pattern that provides us with sufficient rest to recover our minds and our bodies. We need to follow those steps the sleep experts recommend so that we can properly attend to the responsibilities of our day and make the right decisions.
