Must Do Activities for Better Sleep

Getting a good night's sleep is an important factor in productivity, immunity, weight loss, and overall health. If you're not sleeping well, odds are you're not functioning at an optimal level on a day to day basis. Here are a few simple solutions to help improve your sleeping habits.

1. Kick out afternoon caffeine. This one may seem obvious, but it is one rule that I break time and time again. If you pay attention to your afternoon caffeine intake and try and be done with coffee, tea, or any other caffeinated beverage by about 4pm, this should significantly help your ability to peacefully fall asleep.
2. Eat a few hours before. If you try to fall asleep with a stomach full of food, chances are your body will be fighting against you because it is actively trying to digest what you ate. Eating at least two hours before you go to bed is ideal, most of the time I like to eat a little earlier than that because I think my stomach takes a long time to digest my food and if I eat too much before bed I'm never hungry for breakfast in the morning.
3. Stretch. Taking a few minutes to stretch out your body before bed will help unwind your muscles and your mind. Anywhere from five to ten minutes of light stretching should help prepare you both mentally and physically for a restful night of sleep.
4. Read or write. Instead of watching tv or being on your computer before bed, try taking a little bit of time with just you and the book you're reading, or take the time to write your to-do list for the next day. The glow of the computer can keep you mentally awake and keep you from being able to fall asleep. Reading however, can help calm your mind and relax you.

Do you have any tips you swear by to get to sleep more easily?