How to pay off sleep debt

Sleep is essential to our lives, and not getting enough can leave you feeling groggy, tired, and irritable. When we are sleep deprived on a regular basis it can lead to sleep debt.  For example, if you need 8 hours of sleep each night but you only get 6, you have 2 hours of sleep debt. One of the best strategies for “paying off” sleep debt is to embrace strategies that help you keep from accumulating more sleep debt in the future.

• Assess how much sleep you need (the average adult requires 7-9 hours of sleep each night)
• Gradually increase your sleep time by improving your sleep hygiene
• Stick to a consistent sleep schedule
• Avoid stimulants for at least three hours before you go to bed
• Keep your bedroom dark, cool, and quiet to make it easier for you to fall asleep quickly each night