In Pursuit of Sleep...

What does it take to get great sleep?  It takes comfort, a chilled room, a calm mind, no sugar and consistency.  Let's talk about that last factor.

Consistency is the best friend of every Great Sleeper.  You need to be going to bed at the same time, getting up at the same time, eating at the same time.  You have to commit to yourself that sleep is important to your health and that your health is vital to your happiness.

At some point in your life, you left home and started eating ice cream for dinner every night.  Many of us had that first taste of freedom in college.  The joy in that experience lasted for about one week, maybe two if we really liked ice cream and weren't smart enough to notice the effects on how our bodies felt.  But the point is, it's over now.

The rest isn't a lot different.  When you go read and apply "The Great Sleep Checklist,"  you are looking to eliminate the other "ice cream factors" in your life.  If you're going to start sleeping better, it'll take about that level of discipline.  You'll try to get to bed at the same time every night.  You'll endeavor to be home in your own bed, with the room temperature suitably lowered to the 68-70 degree zone.  You'll have avoided exercise and eating for a few hours prior.

You'll also want to stop pecking at your computer screens 90 minutes before you go to bed.  Yes, even the smartphone.  That one gets harder every day, doesn't it?

But you'll notice it all works together.  It all helps you get better sleep.  It's a chain of events that, when combined, will help you move toward a better night's sleep.  Then one night, it'll all fall into place, and voila! Great Sleep Achieved!