Are you sleeping less than you think?

If you think you're getting that solid eight hours of sleep per night, you could be flat-out wrong. In fact, you may be receiving an hour less sleep each night if a new sleep study is correct.

A new study released this week involved over 2,000 participants aged 40 and up. This group reported a solid sack time amount of seven hours, but only slept six hours per night when monitored at home during the study. Why?

Well, people believe they sleep more than they do, but life gets in the way like it always does (the exact reasons are hard to pigeonhole here, but you get the drift). Experts suggested these tips to ensure you really do get that seven hours (or more) of sleep per day:

• Avoid caffeine four to six hours before bedtime.
• Don't use alcohol as a sleep aid.
• Relax before bedtime.
• Get regular exercise, but if it revs you up too much at night, exercise in the morning.
• Keep your bedroom quiet, dark, and comfortable.
• Don't go to bed hungry or after a heavy meal.
• Don't smoke. Nicotine can hamper sleep.
• If you nap, keep it short.
• Keep pets off your bed.
• Avoid watching TV, eating, and discussing emotional issues in bed.