For most people, how relaxing you feel after a nights sleep defines how effective you will be for that day. Every persons sleep patterns differ, so one might need eight to ten hours of continuous sleep to feel rested while another might only need about six hours.

We all need to sleep in order to function. It is part of life, like breathing and eating. When you feel rested, thanks to a good nights sleep, you maybe feel like you could tackle something that came your way. But if your night was interrupted by certain factors resulting in a restive sleep, odds are that you might feel cross and not very focused the next day. And if you're not getting good quality sleep, you may be suffering from a certain degree of insomnia.

So what constitutes enough sleep? A simplified definition is the measure of sleep you want in order not to feel drowsy the next day. It is thought that more than half the worlds population experiences some type of sleep problems at least once a week.

If you are not waking up refreshed and ready to face your day, it is time to take a look at your sleeping habits. Ask your spouse or significant other that shares a bedroom with you about your sleep habits. Odds are they could tell you if you snore, talk in your sleep, sleepwalk or have restive legs syndrome. In other words, you might not be concerned of these sleep habits, but the ones who share your bed would definitely know because you may be interrupting their sleep too!

The most common offenders that inhibit a good, relaxing sleep are:

* Caffeine and alcohol
* Late night snacks
* Certain medication
* Watching too much television before bedtime

There are some things you can do to sleep better at night. It is all about creating a bedtime routnie and sticking to it. Try some of these tips and see if you can fall asleep easier:

* Soak in a hot tub or shower
* Exercise every day
* Turn off the television
* Pick up a book to wind down
* Don't drink too much liquid 2-3 hours before bedtime

Soaking in a hot tub or shower will permit your body to cool off naturally, kicking in your urge to go to sleep. Exercise is good and reading a book allows your body to relax slowly, something you might want to do in order to fall asleep. And by not drinking something a few hours before bedtime, you are less likely to have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Remember, quantity doesnt mean much in sleep. Its the quality that you get from a nights sleep that is the most important.