Good health starts with a good night's sleep, though that's often hard to get in our fast-paced lives. If you're having trouble sleeping, try following the guidelines of the Better Sleep Council, at GetFit.com.
It helps to keep your biological clock on regular hours by going to bed and getting up at about the same hour every day. And when you lie down to sleep, make sure it's on a good bed -- not too small, too soft, too hard or too old.
Cut back on the caffeine, especially in the six to eight hours before you go to bed; avoid alcohol late at night and don't smoke. Nicotine is an even stronger stimulant than caffeine. Don't go to bed hungry, but don't eat too late, either, since a big meal late at night can force the digestive system to work overtime and have you tossing and turning.
If you've got worries, think them through earlier in the evening so you can put them aside when you hit the pillow, the Better Sleep Council says. And exercise regularly, preferably in the late afternoon or early evening, since exercise burns off the tensions that accumulate during the day, and that allows both your body and your mind to unwind.
