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Keep a steady sleep schedule

Older adults need about the same sleep as other adults, seven to nine hours, though sleep tends to be lighter and more broken with age. Steady habits help. For insomnia that lasts, the American College of Physicians recommends cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as the first treatment, before medication.

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Pick one bedtime habit to try tonight

About 5 minutes

Choose one habit from a short list and try it tonight: going to bed at your usual time, a relaxing wind-down such as reading or soft music, or keeping screens out of the bedroom.

Safety: This is a habit to try, not treatment for a sleep problem. If you often cannot sleep, are very sleepy in the day, or snore loudly with pauses in breathing, talk with your doctor.

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