In search of better sleep...

I have always been a sleeper.  If I get adequate rest (read:  during the summer when I am not teaching) and allow my body to sleep until I wake up, I like about nine hours to feel great.  During the school year this is impossible.  I usually get about 6 1/2-7 hours, which by some standards is pretty good but not by my body's requirements.  I think a major reason that I need more sleep than some is that I never, ever, NEVER sleep through the night.  EVER.  I cannot remember a time in which I slept peacefully for sustained periods of time.  I generally wake at least 3-4 times a night, and often more than that.  Luckily, I fall right back to sleep, but we all know that waking that much isn't getting me that good REM sleep stuff.  

Thus, I walk around in an exhausted stupor most days, sleep 12 hours on weekend nights when I can (now we have 8:30 church so that messes me up again), and usually take a nap on Sunday, too.  Now, my job is exhausting on its own accord.  It just is.  Ask any single teacher in my building if they are tired and they would reply, "No, I'm exhausted."  Part of the deal.  But I have gotten so tired of being tired that I am trying some things to encourage a more restful night.  And I'm pleased to say that in this three days of the trial run, I DO feel more energized, I wake up easier and feel more rested.  Here's what I've done:

--I stop drinking caffeine at noon.  I have water or other non-caff stuff after that.  I had gotten to the point in my Diet Coke addiction that it didn't bother my GOING to sleep if I drank it later in the day so I would occasionally have some later or at dinner.  Now I cut that out.
--I get away from the computer screen at least 20 minutes before bed.  I remember reading somewhere that electronics stimulate your brain, even if you are just reading, so I am trying to log off and give my brain a break.
--I have been reading a book before bed.  Now this is breaking a BIG rule.  I usually don't allow myself a pleasure read while in school because I love reading so much I'll ignore my work.  I've just had to be disciplined to only read a bit before bed.  Hard, but doable.
--Right after reading and before lights out I do a series of yoga stretch poses.  I noticed a while back that when I would do them I would feel utterly exhausted---almost like drugged--and I read recently that yoga stretches can help relax you. 
--I have a tiny little spray bottle with water and some drops of lavender essential oil in it that I use to spritz my sheets and pillow before I enter the Land of Nod. 

Anyway, it seems to be working thus far this week.  I plan to keep it up---even if it doesn't help sleep in the long run, all of those things are good things to do anyway. 

Ok, gotta go.  Time to get my brain away from the electronics.