The good news is that not everyone necessarily needs eight hours of sleep a night. Some people define themselves as insomniacs, because they regularly sleep only five or six hours. Actually, they should think of themselves as high-energy people who don't need a lot of sleep. Some people's body rhythms are such that their highest and most creative energy periodoccurs late at night. The wakeful state that these people experience is not a sign of illness, it may simply be a signal-- sometimes an annoyingly loud signal--that the person should use this alert time to do some creative work. healthren.com

• Perhaps the best way to determine if you're getting enough sleep at night is if you feel rested and refreshed upon waking. If you don't feel rested and need some help, read the next set of strategies. Soon you may be getting sleepy, very sleepy, very very sleepy....

Strategy #1: Relaxation trick #1. Hypnotize yourself. Feel total relaxation in your feet, then slowly feel the relaxation move up your body. Tell yourself: I am falling asleep. Use diaphramatic breathing which will help relax you further (see Strategy #8 in the Asthma section for instructions).

Strategy #2: Relaxation trick #2. Massage the soles of your feet, or preferably, have them massaged for you. This can be very relaxing.

Strategy #3: Relaxation trick #3: Don't sleep tight: . Take a warm bath in which you add a couple of drops of one or more essential oils such as orange blossom, meadowsweet, or hops.

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Strategy #4: Hops to it. Hops is the herb that is used to make beer, and it is also used by herbalists to help people go to sleep. Some people brew a tea of it; others purchase the hops leaves and insert them into a pillow. You could also buy a dream pillows; these are small pillows filled with various sweet-smelling herbs which help you to think sweet thoughts and dream sweet dreams.

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