Eight Ways to Sleep Tight at Last

We all know sleep is important (it can, after all, make us more attractive): So how do we do it better? On Dumb Little Man, Kat Eden offers up 10 tips:

• Get more vitamin D: Go out in the sun, include it in your diet, or ask your doctor about a supplement. A lack of vitamin D can have numerous negative effects, including a shortage of melatonin—the hormone that helps you get better sleep.
• Cut back on the bad stuff: You should ideally stop ingesting caffeine, sugar, and other stimulants as early as 2pm, and stop eating and drinking alcohol at least two hours before hitting the sack.

• Eat some complex carbs: Certain foods, like those containing tryptophan (warm milk, turkey) are said to aid sleep, and many health experts include complex carbs in that list: Think oats, bananas, root vegetables, brown rice.
• Use a sleep track: Technology before bed (computers, TV) or in the bedroom (bright alarm clock lights) are bad, but a relaxation track—there are tons on the Internet—can help still your mind.

Click for the complete list, or check out another reason it’s important to get a good night’s rest.
(More sleep stories.)