The secret to age-restoring, fat-fighting, cancer-preventing sleep is...routine

I am sure you noticed that there are millions of e-somniacs out there, because they are out there on Facebook, email, Twitter, Plaxo, RSVP, ect at the same godforsaken hours sending messages instead of sleeping sweetly in their beds.

Strangely, the moment we are out of the big cities camping, TV, DVD player and computer are taken away, we go back to a more natural body rhythm, going to rest as it gets dark and raising with the sun. We have a pre-historic body that still responds to prehistoric body-clock cues.

There is nothing worse than being constantly tired, grumpy and getting sick gradually because our body is lacking that repairing, healing sleep. There are some very simple rules you need to follow to get back on track. The secret to perfect, age-restoring, fat-fighting, cancer-preventing sleep is.....routine. It's really not a sexy revelation...

So here is how it works. Rise as early as you can. Slide straight into sneaker. Exercise straight from home- none of this driving to the gym business: it invites procrastination. A simple 30 min walk is perfect. Use your favourite music collection of energizing music or personal development on your Ipod if that is your preference instead of being with your ow thoughts and bird song. Then meditate. By exercising first your mind is settled and ready for meditation. It sets you up for a great day! Then shower, take a teaspoon of apple cedar vinegar (to wake up your digestion and for general well being) and have a Herbalife nutrition shake or eat porridge. According to Eastern traditions, a hot, dense breakfast is the best way to ground energy; cold foods, such as muesli, require heat to digest, which saps energy from your system at that hour.

At night, it's simple. Eat a light dinner by 7pm. Avoid foods like avocado, aged cheese and soy sauce at night. Turn computer off by 8pm. Be in bed by 10pm. If you don't, your body will ache because the body repair occurs between 10pm and 2am. Get 7 to 8 hours sleep in a well aired, cool room. Don't overheat your bedroom. Sleep debt causes cortisol to rise, which shuts down metabolism so you start putting on weight.

Repeat this routine for a week or two and watch your skin glow, your phone manner become more attentive and sleep strike you like a blow to the head with a fat doona. After the improvement shows, you won't want to go back to your old habits because you will feel and look so much better!

If you are an owl like me, adjustment can take much longer and can be a tough transition but it is worth the experiment.

I wish you a good night sleep, a healthier body, glowing, young looking skin and a big smile on your face!

Please let me know of your results!

(This writing is based on an article by Sarah Wilson in A better life section of the Sunday Age July 2009. Sarah attended a sleep retreat at Gwinganna in the Gold Coast hinterland.)