I can still hear my mother yelling across the house to us 4 children to get to bed–and out of her hair!  She knew, in her “mother-person” wisdom, that a child short on sleep would also be short of temper.  I know how she relished those quiet hours in the evening to read the paper, and get herself calm and ready for her own night of the sweet bliss of sleep.

According to the American Psychological Association, we just aren’t getting enough sleep–probably about 6 and a half hours a night.  The recommended dose is more like 7 to 9 hours a night, every night.  When we don’t get that amount of restful sleep, not only are we more irritable, but less creative, less focused and not as productive.

If you’ve ever tried to put a baby to sleep, you know there’s a prelude.  You give the baby a bottle, you sing to it, maybe when they get a little older you read a story.  It’s not a time for tickling, making faces and getting baby all riled up.  Adults are no different.  You want to coax yourself into a deep, uninterrupted sleep that will leave you refreshed for the next exciting adventure of your life.

Here are some tips to get a good night’s sleep:

• Don’t eat too close to bedtime–have a cup of warm milk or tea, but skip the glass of wine and the bag of chips.
• Suggest to yourself that you’ll sleep well.  Review and let go of the events of the day.
• Leave your i-pad or phone on your desk, and turn off the TV.  Reading a good book is more relaxing just before bed.

Because sleep regulates every system in the body, your health depends on it.  Sleep deprivation over the long haul has been linked to depression, obesity and heart disease.  If you’re having trouble staying asleep, here’s an easy pose you can do to put yourself back in the sleep zone.  Now, GO TO BED!