Cindi Leive Sleep

For the first time in probably 10 years, I've only fallen asleep when I meant to, as opposed to on planes, trains, automobiles, over romantic dinners or during family events.

Just one of the startling things I've learned over the last two weeks of the Sleep Challenge is that apparently, when it comes to good health, what you do in the hour right before you go to bed really matters.

Here's a question for all of you: What are you doing less of to make more time for sleep?

When I am exhausted, I can't remember where I parked my car after a five minute run into the store, but the second my husband looks at me cross-eyed, I am a ball of fury and sobs.

This is Day Four of our sleep challenge and I'm already seeing the benefits of getting more shuteye. The biggest hurdle: sticking to my new vow not to have a drop of coffee after noon.

All of a sudden, there I was in the pitch-black, mentally scrolling through my to-do list. I did end up eventually falling back asleep, but when I went for a run this morning, I accidentally locked myself out of my own house.

Sleep is actually a combination of 2 systems, your sleep drive (like hunger) and a biological clock that tells you when to sleep. When both are working well together, you sleep best.

As of this morning, we've emerged victorious from what some experts consider the biggest test of American women's sleep habits: that 48-hour health menace known as the weekend.