Sleeping less than 6 hours a night destroys your brain and body.

Do these 7 things to get 8 hours of sleep every night:

Not getting enough sleep cripples your brain.

It causes:

• brain fog
• mood swings
• low motivation
• poor judgment
• difficulty learning
• low impulse control
• slower reaction time

You aren't doing your best if you aren't getting enough rest.

Here's how:

1) Reduce light in the evening

Several hours before bed, switch from using white lights to the yellowish "daytime" lights.

Also, dim the brightness of your lights if you're able.

This tells your system the day is coming to a close.

2) Don't eat/drink within 3 hours of bedtime

A big meal right before bed reduces your sleep quality due to digestion.

Alcohol may help you FALL asleep, but it hurts your ability to STAY asleep.

Too much of any liquid may cause bathroom trips in the middle of the night.

Also, be careful how late in the day you have caffeine.

It takes a long time for caffeine to be eliminated from your system.

Stop having it within 12 hours of bedtime.

PS: Watch out for sneaky sources of caffeine like sodas, teas, and chocolate.