Nobody is sure why people need to sleep. We spend a third of our lives with our eyes closed, sometimes dreaming, waiting for our bodies to repair themselves. The recommended nightly time spent sleeping is usually around 8 hours, though a little more for endurance athletes.

People generally sleep less as they get older, and everyone is different, but getting enough sleep is crucial for your mental health. Sleep disturbances are known to contribute to anxiety and depression, and sleep deprivation can cause psychosis in healthy adults.

If sleeping is difficult for you, make learning to do it a priority. Avoid electronics, exciting subjects (erotica novels), and bright lights around 30 minutes before trying to sleep. Avoid exercising three hours before trying to sleep. If you want to try pills, there are plenty of options near you, but you would benefit the most from trying to address the anxiety behind your insomnia first. Otherwise, GABA and melatonin, diphenhydramine (Benadryl), L-tryptophan, Valerian root, chamomile tea, and a dozen other options are at your local supermarket.

In the book Relax and Win, Lloyd Winter describes a technique taught to Air Force pilots to help them fall asleep within two minutes. First, relax as though you are already asleep. That means you relax your jaw and eyes and pretend like you are already drooling on your pillow. Then imagine you are lying in a black hammock and you are surrounded by black everywhere. Keep this image in your mind and focus on how you feel and what you can see.

A powerful thought-stopping question as you lie there comes from Eckhart Tolle. “I wonder what my next thought will be?”