7 Ways to Actually Get 8 Hours of Sleep

The first is to cue your body it’s time to wind down (turn off your email! wash your face!). The second is for actual lights out.

Sure, every night your body is mentally exhausted, but what about physically? Fitting in a yoga class or a run or even a 20-minute walk on your lunch break will help your body feel like it’s earned that bedtime routine.

Ugh, your busy brain. (Does your presentation have typos? What will you wear to work? Or pack for lunch? Gah!) By stashing a notebook by your bed, you can take a minute before bedtime to write down any questions or concerns swimming around your head. And then--some solutions, too. You’ll rest much easier knowing you have a list and an action plan.

It’s dark right now, but come morning, the sun will be streaming in from openings in the curtains you failed to tightly close. Do a quick check before you hit the hay. Trust us, it’s worth the extra 20 seconds it takes.

Yay! You’re just about to finally doze off, but whoops, what’s that blue light flashing in the corner over there? Plugging in your phone in another room removes the risk of digital interruptions…and the temptation to pass sleepless time on Facebook. (Just maybe invest in a real alarm clock.)

Sure, wine makes you relaxed and sleepy now, but after it metabolizes in your system (about three to four hours later), it works as a stimulant that wakes you up. A better plan: Sip a glass of milk to chill out before bed.

Not a new one, but a story you already know. The goal is to find something that distracts your mind, but doesn’t engage it, so you can blissfully drift off to sleep.