Cut back on caffeine; don’t drink it past noon.

Go to bed at the same time every night.

Keep your room cool and dark.

When you get in bed, turn the light off and go to sleep. Don’t read or watch videos in bed.

Chamomile and Valerian root teas are magic.

If you suffer from anxiety, find and utilize healthy coping mechanisms to reduce it. Meditation can be helpful.

I usually fall asleep within 5 to 10 minutes, and sleep 7.5 to 8.5 hours most nights.

Any amount of sleep is more valuable when you’re well hydrated.

So if you’re lying there thirsty, but worried that getting up might mean being unable to fall asleep for another hour, know that being well hydrated for 5 hours of sleep is worth more than being dehydrated for 6 hours of sleep.

Working shifts in the aviation industry and living in a city center that can be noisy, my best investment was sleeping earbuds named Bose sleepbuds (v2).

It’s just earbuds that you don’t feel and can sleep on your side without pain, they only play white noises.

Now I’m waiting for the Ozlo Sleep which are basically the v3 of the Bose sleepbuds.

Those things saved my sanity when working night shifts.

I need to occupy my mind with something that isn’t related to real life. Not just avoiding topics that are stressful or otherwise emotionally loaded, just thinking about anything I’m going to do or things in my life will stop me sleeping. So I think of stories and fiction worlds until the day dreams become actual dreams.

Since I got into the habit my sleep has gotten far more regular and I have had more control over went it happens.

Exercise a lot (and get sunlight exposure) during the day.

Also, never watch movies, read, scroll on a phone, etc in bed. You want your brain to 100% associate being in the bed with sleeping, as soon as it happens

I’m usually out within 5-10 minutes now, since starting to follow those two things reliably

(edit: also, minimizing light exposure in the last couple of hours of your day is good)

edit 2: Forgot the most important thing of all, which is to keep a consistent sleep / wake time every day. Getting rid of all alcohol is great too, if you want actually-decent sleep