Get up early.  Get your workout it.  Workout as hard as your tired body can.  Weigh your food.  Count your calories.  Work harder.  Don’t forget, make money, raise a perfect family and recycle.    When does it end?  When are we doing too much and getting too little out of it?

We work tirelessly towards our self-defined wannabe-beings.  When is less better?  What are we not doing..what is missing that may actually help us move in the direction of our goals?  I’d like to introduce a series of “blogicles”, if you will, addressing this.  What are we not doing and should be doing to survive, thrive an live happier lives.  Isn’t that exactly what it is all about in the end?  If not, what else?  That old saying, “Ignorance is bliss”, is really only half true, if that.  If you have never experienced an outstanding glass of wine - a melting massage - blissful sex, mediocrity is just fine.  It is a step above poor.  If you knew that you could open the door to a happier existence, wouldn’t you?  You may be afraid of the unknown...of trying something new, of rocking the proverbial boat because if you discover a better self, it becomes also true that you’ve been living a sub-par life.  Well, get over it.  Better is better.  At least peak through that door.  Whatever.  You can always turn back around if you’re not satisfied.

So, in my own personal quest for this so-called happier existence, I’ve recently made some belated changes to my life.  In the coming months, I’ll expand in detail...

First and foremost, SLEEP.  

I’ve been mentioning this in my classes lately.  Plan on getting AT LEAST 8 uninterrupted hours a night.  I know, things happen.   Sometimes the darn phone rings just as you feel the reigns of slumber pulling you in, or your kid wakes up screaming for you at 2am.  It’s tough especially in a noisy, street-lit, rude-ass neighbor ridden city like NY - Brooklyn included.  Here are my strategies.

1. Sleep in a completely dark room.  As cave-like as possible.  Invest in blackout window coverings.  Turn off all cell phones to avoid blinking lights (and possible phone calls).  Put watches, ticking every waking moment (quite literally), in drawers or other rooms.

2. Don’t drink too close to bed time.  By this I mean any liquid.  Inevitably, you will need to get up to pee in the middle of the night and that means sleep interrupted.  Regarding alcohol, yes, a glass of wine with dinner, even two, is just fine if you fancy that.  But, I’ve read that too much alcohol before bedtime leads to less overall sleep.  Yes, your buzzing head may help you fall asleep upon pillow-impact, but your sleep may be shorter-lived then it could be otherwise. 

3. Need some help?  Try Natural Calm.  This is a magnesium supplement in powder form.  Mix it into some warm water and drink.  See the shop section of my site. 

4. Melatonin, a natural hormone that helps regulate sleep cycles and is found at any drugstore can be helpful.  Usually 3mg is enough.  I’ve read that increasing the dosage does not necessarily translate into increased effects.  As a side note, beware if it is the first time taking this stuff.  It may cause nightmares.  It doesn't for me, but does for my wife.  Needless to say, she sticks with the aforementioned Natural Calm.

5. Turn off computers, phones and all such electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime.  All such things will allegedly delay the onset of sleep.

6. Plan your sleep.  Get to bed at a certain time so that you at least have a fighting chance at 8 hours.  If you get to bed at midnight and have the alarm clock set to 6am, you’re basically planning self-sabotage.

Need a few extra tips?  Chamomile tea, a hot bath, listening to calming music...

Having a 3 year old, my wife and I have read our fair share of sleep books.  Though they all differ in technique and philosophy, they all say the same basic thing and that same truth exists for both children and adults.  Sleep begets sleep.  Once you learn to sleep, you’ll be better at it.  

Happy Sleeping!