We all need some help now and then in getting to sleep. Rather than just popping a pill which can be habit forming and lead to more sleep problems in long term, try these sleeping tips. One or more of them will surely help.

Have a hot bath

Not hot enough to make you uncomfortable though. The heat of water relaxes muscles and also causes core body temperature to drop afterwards which sends a sleep signal to brain. This is great for children too. It only works for baths though, not showers!

Get more light during day

This sounds strange, but its vital for good sleep at night. Our brains are hard wired to go to sleep when it's dark and wake when its light. Not getting enough light during day will deprogram our biological clock. Once our circadian rhythm has been upset, our brain won't receive sleep signal when we're ready to go to sleep.

Even if you are working long hours try to get outside into sunshine for a while at lunchtime. If you live in a part of world which has short days in winter, install a bright light at home and sit under it for at least 30 minutes. This should be enough to keep that biological clock ticking!

This is a good reason not to watch TV in bed. Even if program is dull, bright flickering light of TV screen will be working against your natural sleep patterns!

Don't lie in bed and worry about not sleeping

This will only cause stress and make sleep even harder to achieve. If you find yourself becoming concerned about not sleeping, get up and make yourself a drink (not coffee!) Find something to read. Stay up until you feel sleepy again and only then go back to bed.

Go to bed at same time every night and get up at same time every morning.

This reinforces natural biological rhythm and helps your brain send a sleep signal. It also reinforces a habit. Habits are an important part of better sleep. Obviously you won't be able to do this every single night, there will be nights where you might go out to a show or out on town with friends! However if you manage most nights, this will still work well.

Don't go to bed until you are tired.

There are different options to consider. If your loved one is in early/mid stages of Alzheimer’s you can consider private duty home care. Many agencies throughout nation and in your community provide this service. A list of providers can be obtained in phone book, from local Alzheimer’s Association, Area Agency on Aging, or any case management and referral source. The private duty home care can include services like bathing, sitting, taking to appointments, shopping, meal preparation and other day-to-day essentials. This assistance will definitely help you in getting more free time.