How long does it take you to fall asleep? I know some people who start snoring the moment they lie down. Me, I usually spend at least 20 minutes staring at the ceiling (or the pillow). There are even times when I would waste an hour or more just trying to fall asleep. This year, I am determined to fix my sleeping habits – and that starts with falling asleep faster. Here are some things that I have been trying out, and they seem to be working.

Get thick and dark curtains for the bedroom. My curtains are light and airy. They’re perfect for the morning, but at night, the moonlight or the city lights shine through. That never really bothered me, but I thought I’d try sleeping in a dark room. It helps!

Turn the air conditioning on. This is NOT going to work for those who are in winter right now. But for those in tropical countries, why don’t you try cooling the room down before you sleep? Again, I normally am not bothered by the heat that much, but I noticed that when the room is cool (temperature depends on your preference), I don’t spend hours just forcing sleep to come.

Do NOT think about your day (and issues) while in bed. I think that this is my main problem. When I lie down, I like to mull things over. This habit makes it hard for my mind to relax and shut down. Now I am trying to do the thinking while I relax in the living room. When it’s time to sleep, I think of my “happy places” – a favorite beach, this nice little mountain resort, and so on.

Try these?