Are you one of the many Americans who fail to get enough sleep at night? Unfortunately, feeling tired the next day is only one negative consequence of not getting a good night’s sleep. Studies are showing that sleeping less than six hours a night can increase the risk of some diseases including heart disease and cancer. If this is the case, it may be time to learn some new ways to get to bed early. After all, your health may depend upon it. Here are some tips that can help.

Make Sleep a Priority

Somewhere along the way, life probably became so busy that sleep fell down on your list of priorities. If so, it’s time to re-evaluate your priorities for the sake of your health and well being. Remind yourself that if you don’t develop healthy sleep habits now you could pay for it later in the form of serious health problems. Once you truly understand the health implications, you’ll be more likely to make the necessary changes.

Increase Your Sleep Time Incrementally

The best way to get to bed early and develop healthier sleep habits is to increase your sleep time incrementally. If you suddenly decide to get seven or eight hours sleep per night when you’re only accustomed to five or six, there’s a good chance you’ll experience sleep problems. Try going to bed fifteen minutes earlier for a two week period. Once your body has adjusted to this, add additional fifteen minute increments every fourteen days until you’re sleeping between seven and eight hours a night. You’ll be surprised at how much better you feel.

Reward Yourself for Sticking to Your New Sleep Schedule

As you incrementally add fifteen minute intervals to your sleep schedule, give yourself an established bed time each night. To encourage yourself to go to bed at the established time, reward yourself the next day. Your reward could be a cappuccino or thirty minutes spent reading your favorite book. This will further reinforce your efforts to be disciplined about getting to bed on time.

Go to Bed at the Same Time Each Night

People who don’t get enough sleep usually have open ended bed times. Once they park themselves in front of their computer or the television set, the stimulation keeps them from feeling sleepy until the next day when they have to drag themselves out of bed. After feeling tired all day, they usually get a second wind at night, and repeat the process all over again. Stick to the same bedtime each night, even on weekends. This is the most effective way to train your body to rest.

Turn off All Distractions at a Certain Time

At your established bedtime, eliminate all distractions that could keep you awake. Turn off the computer, the television set, and take the phone off the hook. Make sure your bedroom is dark, comfortable, and conducive to sleep. Don’t get into the habit of reading or watching television in bed. Train your mind to relax and stop thinking at a certain time.

The bottom line? The simplest way to get to bed early is to make it a priority and increase your sleep time incrementally. Just imagine how much better you’re going to feel.