Tired? Make 3 simple changes for better sleep

According to Dr. Adnan Pervez, a Pulmonologist and Sleep Physician at Rex, three simple changes might help you get the shut-eye you need every night.

“Sleep is not as simple as most people think," said Pervez, who specializes in identifying sleep problems and helping his patients get to bed.

The first big "don't" is using technology, like smartphones and tablets, at bedtime.

“A lot of people take them to bed with them or are engaged with them close to bed time," said Pervez. "That’s a big no. Because not only is this technology designed to keep you engaged, in many ways, it is designed to keep you awake."

The second thing to avoid is drinks like caffeine, coffee, tea and alcohol.

"Sometimes we think that they promote sleep, but they eventually may not," said Pervez. "The affect from having these can last four to six hours."

The doctor's final tip? Watch out for those sleep aids! “Indiscriminate use of over the counter sleep medication can be counter-productive," said Pervez. "Sometimes they can hang around our bodies into the morning and leave us groggy during the day."