When my younger son was a baby, I got very little sleep. Some nights I only got 3 or 4 hours of sleep, and it was usually interrupted. I started to have a difficult time concentrating and remembering things, or even having a coherent conversation. And I also found out what they mean by "beauty sleep." I was aging in fast-motion. I developed bags under my eyes and wrinkles and my body ached.

Now my boys are a little older, and they sleep through the night. But I still find myself sleep deprived because I stay up too late, or I wake up in the night and start thinking about all the things I need to get done. 

But getting enough sleep is vitally important for good health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website, inadequate sleep can result in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and depression. And driving while sleepy can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. 

How much sleep we need changes throughout our life. The National Sleep Foundation has a chart on their website showing how much sleep we need, and some suggestions for people who have a hard time falling asleep. One of their recommendations is to use relaxation techniques, such as yoga and meditation, as well as exercise, to help reduce stress and promote deeper sleep at night. 

Exercise and yoga classes are available at the Brecksville Community Center, the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center and Bend Yoga Center in Brecksville. And the Brecksville Meditation Group meets twice each month at the Brecksville branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library.

So lately, I've been trying to go to bed on time and get my seven to nine hours. But I still haven't quite caught up on my beauty sleep.