Getting more sleep

Getting more sleep means making room for a longer night. You might go to bed earlier or get up later, if your schedule allows it. You try it because you are sleepy during the day and want to stop spending the morning wishing you could go back to bed.

Those hours have to come from somewhere: unfinished work, a show you want to watch or the only time you have to yourself. And if you already have enough time in bed but struggle to sleep, setting an earlier bedtime may leave that problem unresolved.

By questionnaire

You need to decide what can wait until tomorrow. Waiting until the house is tidy, every message is answered and work is finished can leave you going to bed at the same time as before.

Some schedules offer little room to choose. A baby, a second job or rotating shifts can keep cutting into the night. Even when you can turn in earlier, you cannot make yourself fall asleep on demand.

It is easy to keep postponing bedtime when the evening is your chance to do something for yourself. Tomorrow’s tiredness can feel less pressing than finishing a conversation or another episode tonight.

You might also give up after making more time for sleep and still feeling exhausted. Extra time in bed does not explain every cause of tiredness. If it persists despite having enough opportunity to sleep, discuss it with a clinician instead of assuming you lack discipline.