Are you getting enough sleep?

As evidenced by my Fitbit app, the amount of sleep I get is all over the place lately. I believe I need close to 8 hours of sleep to feel my best. 

I just finished reading The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington and it naturally got me thinking about my own sleep habits. I could adopt some of the tips she suggests in the book like avoiding blue light before bed, meditating, and not eating late at night.

Arianna's description of our sleep crisis in this country really hit home. I think a lot of our problems have to do with wanting to be an uber productive society and not getting enough down time. We're constantly on the go!

I really enjoyed Huffington's perspective on the topic and I'd recommend this title!

One way I am trying to improve my sleep is by taking magnesium before bed. I had seen this Natural Calm powder on other blogs and wanted to try it out. It relaxes my body and mind. I need to play with the dose and find the right one that works for me, but so far I am loving how it is helping me improve my sleep. I don't feel groggy the next day and the best part is, I feel less anxious at work and can calmly try to tackle my never ending to do list.

Other things that help me sleep include lavender essential oil, comfortable pajamas, Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea, dark curtains, reading before bed, and one of the best purchases we have ever made--a King mattress that was worth the investment because both Craig and I sleep so much better now!

Please share any bedtime habits that work for you in the comments below!

Disclosure: I received a copy of The Sleep Revolution through Blogging for Books. All opinions are my own.