To get started, make a bedtime routine. This can be anything from reading a book to taking a bath but you should start about 45 minutes before you plan to go to sleep. Over time your body will begin to associate this routine with bedtime and it will help you relax. Turn off all your electronics even before you begin so there is no interruptions or extra light keeping you from relaxing.
Make sure you don't have any caffeine after 3:00 p.m. even if you think it will not affect your sleep schedule. Try and avoid any alcoholic beverages up to three hours before you hit the pillow. While most people think drinking can help you pass out it actually prevents you from getting the deepest sleep possible and typically as is wears off people tend to wake up.
The last step to take is figuring out exactly how much sleep you need. While eight hours is the ideal number every person varies. It you are sleeping eight hours and still can't wake up in the morning without an alarm then you need more time to snooze. You can reach your perfect sleep time by getting to bed fifteen minutes earlier each night until you reach your ideal sleep needed.
The reason this works is simple. When you sleep more you store less fat and have more energy. If you are feeling less tired during the day you are much more likely to be more active in your daily routine. And the last reason why may seem obvious but if you are sleeping more you're eating less that means you are probably cutting out those late night snacks when you used to stay up and watch TV.
