The Secrets of a Full Night Sleep

I've spent a large majority of my thinking time (driving, waiting for my computer to boot up or print) pondering what the secret is to a full night of sleep.

Last night, for the first time in a long time, I slept for 8 hours.

I'm trying to figure out the difference so that I can keep on getting a full night's sleep. Here are a few differences between my 2.5 to 3 hr nights and last night:

1. Read a short story instead of watching a YouTube video or tv shows online.
2. Closed my curtains.
3. Put a privacy sign on my door handle.
4. Put my phone on silent.
5. Shut my bathroom window and shut my bathroom door.

And it's not that I have less stress or less things going on. I actually have quite a lot right now. My water heater is broken so I don't have hot water. There are some Talent and Talent Business events that are scheduled where I have one or more in a day throughout the week. This, along with my full time support job. And I've been keeping up with friendships and meeting up for hikes or coffee or movies and various things.

We're also planning on having out of town guests this weekend. It all depends on whether my nephew has chicken pox or if it's something else. (I've never had chicken pox. Don't ask me how, but I never have.)

So with all of that, what is it? What's the secret? I think I'll have to ponder a little more. But it feels good to be moving in the right direction. One of my goals for the year (as of September 20th) is to get at least 6 hours of sleep a night regularly. Wouldn't it be wonderful if zzzzzzzzzzz.z.z..z..z...z....z.....