Not Enough Hours in the Night
One of the biggest reasons given for not sleeping long enough is that there simply isn’t the time.  With all the emphasis put on work these days, it can be easy to forget about bedtime.  Avoid this dilemma by planning everything you need to do during the day and sticking to it as best as possible. 

Make a schedule, complete with a target bedtime.  If you have a lot of work to sort through, set up a checklist and prioritize.  That way, you aim to finish certain tasks by certain hours.  The things at the bottom of the checklist are things that you can finish the next day.  If you don’t make it to the bottom of the list by bedtime, go to sleep and worry about it in the morning.

When Counting Sheep Fails
Another reason to miss out on valuable rest is not being able to fall asleep at night.  Having trouble sleeping is usually a by-product of stress and stimulation.  Cut out extensive TV watching or computer use one hour before you plan to go to sleep.  Spend the rest of the night talking with loved ones, flipping through magazines or reading a book.  Reading on the computer doesn’t count, because the backlighting from electronic devices can be way too stimulating for the brain before bedtime. 

Taking a hot shower or bath before going to sleep can help relax your muscles.  Basically, you want to anything that requires little physical activity and lots of relaxing.  If you’ve followed your schedule and taken care of as many tasks as possible, you should be able to rest easy and leave your workday behind. 
If you often feel relaxed and tired but still have trouble sleeping, visit your doctor.  There may be some underlying health issue that’s keeping you awake. 

Sleep is Not an Option!
Stop looking at sleep as wasted time or a nuisance keeping you from your busy schedule.  Sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.  You’ll be quicker, sharper and more productive if you get your eight hours.  The people around you will also thank you, since your mood will improve.  Chances are, if you haven’t been getting enough sleep, you’re probably not living your best life.  You can change it all starting tonight!