We all look forward to good nights' sleep. For many people however, sleep is not easily achieved or restorative. The good news is that you can often improve your sleep by simple measures and common sense. I'm Doctor Nancy Fishback, a sleep disorders specialist with the Sleep Disorders Center, a joint program of Eastern Virginia Medical School and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Good habits can improve sleep.
Regular hours, a quiet, dark room and a comfortable bed improve sleep. Watching TV in bed associates being in bed with being awake and contributes to an irregular bedtime. Letting the TV run all night makes matters worse. The flickering light may actually affect your body's own sleep cycle. We use sunlight to adjust our bodies daily cycles, called circadian rhythms.