Don't try to compensate for your sleep loss by sleeping later or longer. Your diet can affect your ability to sleep too, so watch what you eat - and when you eat it. Try not to eat for at least two hours before you go to bed at night, and eat regularly during the day so that you don't wake up hungry in the middle of the night. If you must eat before bedtime, snack on a handful of dry cereal, popcorn or a cracker. Fatty, spicy, or protein-heavy foods can all cause insomnia, so avoid these if you can.
Stimulants can also cause sleep loss.
Don't consume anything containing caffeine or alcohol at least three hours before bed, and reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeinated foods and beverages during the day. These foods contain a substance that increases the production of a stimulant in the body. Whatever you do, don't take sleeping pills. They have side effects, can be addictive, and can actually disturb sleep. Over time, you could even become immune to them.