Earlier this week Arianna Huffington released her new book, The Sleep Revolution, and while I’m thrilled at the idea of the masses catching on to the importance of sleep, I’ve been a huge sleep advocate for as long as I can remember.

I consider it a gift; I can sleep anywhere, at any time of day, heck, with anyone around!  I believe in the importance of naps, if possible, too.  While I don’t get to nap too often these days, I still consider sleeping to be pretty high on my priorities (and the best-kept beauty secret around).  Here are 5 things I do to ensure a good night’s sleep:

No Hard News Before Bedtime

Back when I had cable, I would always stay up late to watch the 10 o’clock news.  To say it didn’t affect my sleep is a huge lie.  In fact, when I worked at the NY Daily News, the news was a big part of my life and I was bombarded by horrific news stories all day.  Let’s just say that trying to sleep after watching the crime stories in and around New York would give anyone nightmares.  After struggling with falling asleep I made a conscious choice to not only cut cable but to cut out watching or reading news stories after 8 pm.  My rest improved dramatically.

Disconnect From Social Media

Being connected on social media is a fact of modern life, especially for entrepreneurs, but being “online” 24/7 will only ensure quick burnout not necessarily business success.  I try to connect on social media throughout the day but make sure to be offline, again, by 8 pm.  This helps me connect with my husband and children before bedtime and it helps me wind down before bed.

Establish A Bedtime Routine

Having a routine before bed is so important.  It signals to the brain that you’re ready for rest.  My bedtime routine consists of tidying up, taking a hot shower after I’ve put the kids down to bed and doing some light reading.

Sleep In A Decluttered Space

While I don’t consider myself a minimalist, I do feel that your home should be as clutter free as possible, especially your bedroom.  A room with too much "noise" will definitely affect your sleeping patterns.  Think about it, can you really rest soundly seeing a large pile of laundry across the room or facing your desk covered in unpaid bills?  I certainly can’t.  I favor minimal spaces so that I can sleep soundly.  This would mean minimal furniture, a decluttered space and soothing color palettes.

Make Sure I’ve Prepped For The Next Day

Nothing is worst than hitting the sack only to find yourself tossing and turning about the endless things you need to do the next day.  I find that writing a to-do list and planning ahead for the next day helps me calm those jitters and relax a lot more than just trying to wing it, especially for extra busy days.  If I don't, I usually end up like this...

What do you do for a good night's sleep?

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