Your Guide to Better Sleep

In today's sleepless world of 24/7 technology, work, and entertainment, it can be hard to fit in a single night of quality shut-eye. Below I've written a great guide to improving your sleep hygiene, better known as your sometimes-unhealthy sleeping habits. Here's how YOU can improve your quality and quantity of wonderful, peaceful, rejuvenating rest:

Remove Distractions
Do you keep your cell on at night or leave the radio on as you drift off? To get the best sleep possible, its important to remove ALL distractions; that means turning off your cell phone, shutting down your laptop, un-plugging your radio, and removing any other noise-making, attention-grabbing devices in your room. Without the expectation of distractions during the night, your brain will have the opportunity to relax more deeply and completely in the REM cycle of sleep, which means you'll be better-rested and more energetic in the morning.

Turn off the Lights
Lots of people don't like sleeping in the dark or just doze off before they have a chance to get up and turn out their lights. True darkness automatically helps your body set itself up for sleep, and your bright artificial lights won't be able to wake you up while you sleep if they're turned off. If you don't like the idea of sleeping in total blackness, get a plug-in nightlight or get an adjustable lamp for fewer sleep-harming rays.

Make Your Bed a Sleep Haven
Do you often read, write, or watch TV in bed? STOP! For the best sleep possible, you need to start associating your bed with sleep, and only sleep. Personalize your bed with super soft blankets and pillows, and think of it as your very own comfy portal to dreamland.

Let Your Worries Go
Obsessing over your issues as you drift off to sleep can lead to poor rest and even nightmares. Before you get into bed, mentally acknowledge your fears, worries, and hopes from the past day, and let them all go until the morning. Prayer and meditation before bed can also help you relax enough to effortlessly drift off to sleep.

Dream Consciously
Did you know humans spend about a third of their lives sleeping? That's a lot of time catching z's! You can reclaim this third of your life and improve your waking hours by consciously remembering and taking control of your dreams. Dreams can teach you valuable lessons, reveal your hidden desires, and take you on fantastical adventures across space and time. As you drift off to sleep, try to stay conscious as you transition from wakefulness to lucid dreaming. With this practice, most people can learn how to clearly remember their dreams, and some people are even able to design their own fantasies. Keep a dream diary by your bed to keep track of any interesting dreams you have, and you might be able to decipher what your nighttime experiences mean.

Follow this guide to great sleep hygiene, and you'll rest better, longer, and more consciously than ever before. Good night and sweet dreams!