Here's a riddle:  It's as important as food and air for our survival.  And it takes up a whopping 33% of our lives.  It refreshes us like nothing else can.  It can be occasionally elusive yet almost always comforting.  We barely give it a moment's notice . . . until we lose it.  And then we think about it to the point of obsession.  What is it?

The Spanish poet Miguel de Cervantes has the answer: "Now, blessings light on him that first invented sleep!  It covers a man all over, thoughts and all, like a cloak; it is meat for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, heat for the cold, and cold for the hot.  It is the current coin that purchases all the pleasures of the world cheap, and the balance that sets the king and the shepherd, the fool and the wise man, even."  ~Don Quixote, 1605.

And what about this quote from Shakespeare's Macbeth: "Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care, the death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, chief nourisher in life's feast"?

"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together," said the 17^th Century English writer Thomas Dekker.

These ancients knew what you and I have learned--sleep is pleasant and essential for survival.  But most of us decry the fact that something so vital can also be so elusive.  The experts say that we should wake up refreshed in the morning without the use of an alarm clock and feel energetic all day.  Instead, for millions the consequences of a poor night's sleep--higher stress, increased mistakes, difficulty concentrating--are everyday occurrences.  But it doesn't have to be this way.

The Better Sleep Council (BSC) conducted a stress and sleep survey to find out what keeps us up at night.  This year's findings revealed a range of insights on our stress and sleep cycles.  Just how stressed are we?  The facts are 65% of us claim to periodically lose sleep due to stress, and 32% lose sleep at least one night per week.

When we don't get the amount of sleep we need, we accumulate a sleep debt.  This sleep debt has to be paid back, or sleepiness will continue to worsen.  The temptation is to think that our week's sleep debt can be paid back on the weekends.  But this only disrupts our sleep/awake rhythm further.

What's keeping us awake?  Two percent claim to worry about current events.  Some 16% say it's personal finances.  And 23% loose sleep over family issues.  And what accounts for the other percent of this insomnia?  It could have something to do with poor sleep habits.  Score yourself on this list of tips.

• The quantity and quality of sleep are very important.  Most adults need between 7.5 and 8.5 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

• Keep regular hours.  Try to go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time every day.

• Stay away from all stimulants in the evening, including coffee, chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and caffeinated teas.  Also avoid nicotine (e.g., cigarettes, tobacco products) and alcohol.

• Use the bed for sleeping.  Avoid watching TV or using laptop computers.  Reading is OK, so long as the material is relaxing and the bedside lamp is not too bright.

• Exercise regularly, but avoid exercise at least 3 hours before bed.

• Bedtime routines are helpful for good sleep.  A warm bath, a cup of herbal tea, and a scripture and prayer can be a good custom.

• Keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature--not too warm and not too cold.  Cooler is better than warmer.

• If you have problems with noise in your environment, you can use a “white noise” generator.  A small fan will do the job.

• Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.

• If you can't get to sleep in 30 minutes, get out of bed and do something boring in dim light until you are sleepy.

Are you one of the 65% who are losing sleep because of stress--stress over current events, personal finances, or family issues?  Here's a tip on sleep straight from the Bible.  It's found in Ecclesiastes 5:12, "People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much.  But the rich seldom get a good night's sleep" (NLT).  We should work hard at what we do during the daytime, because then we'll be tired and our sleep will be sweet.  But if we spend our time and energy worrying about finances, we'll likely have insomnia.

One day Jesus was addressing a large crowd of people.  He had a piece of advice for them which is just as relevant to us today.  It's found in Matthew 6:25-28:  "So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes.  Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing?  Look at the birds.  They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns, because your heavenly Father feeds them.  And you are far more valuable to Him than they are.  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  Of course not.  And why worry about your clothes?  Look at the lilies and how they grow.  They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.  And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't He more surely care for you?  You have so little faith” (NLT)!

Maybe there's truth in the Irish Proverb: "A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book."