In an attempt to do more laundry or squeeze in another episode of The Good Wife, almost all of us skimp on sleep. And that includes the Lehmans and Avaglianos. So we used data from their Fitbit Ultra activity and sleep trackers as well as their interviews with Robert Oexman, D.C., director of the Sleep to Live Institute in Joplin, Missouri, to create personalized goals that would get them the rest they need. "Just like going to work and the gym, you have to make a commitment to quality rest," says Dr. Oexman. "Once you stop cheating the clock, you’ll look, feel and function better." Here’s how our families put zzz’s at the top of their list—and how you can snooze better too.
 


How the Lehmans Won
 
After a neighbor's home was broken into almost a year ago, Anna started coming into her parents' room in the middle of the night and sleeping on the floor. "She was scared that the same thing was going to happen to us and the person would take not just our things but her too," says Tiffany. "She would almost cry because she didn’t want to stay in her room." And although Anna didn’t wake her parents, kids don’t rest well on the floor, says Dr. Oexman. Tiffany also had an issue to tackle for this challenge: A self-described night owl, she didn’t turn in until 11 p.m. or later. As a result, she was not getting enough shut-eye and was skimping on time with Andy, who often hit the hay by 9:30 p.m. "Sleep wasn’t something that I really invested much in before," says Tiffany. "But I realize now that it’s a vital part of weight loss and overall health." The result of their new and improved bedtime habits? Andy has more energy and is down 2 pounds. Tiffany dropped 2 pounds as well.
 
Their Top Tips
 
Go to bed together. Instead of spending mindless hours online or watching TV, Tiffany curbed her night owl tendencies and turned in when Andy did. "I really enjoyed that time we had together at the end of the day," says Tiffany. "We talked, got to snuggle and had more intimacy." All this made Tiffany realize that getting the right amount of sleep is "totally worth it!"
 
Keep the kids out. After just two nights of following Dr. Oexman’s method (see "Reclaiming Your Bed" on page 137), Anna was snoozing in her own  room the entire night. One important thing: Dr. Oexman assured Anna that her fears were normal for a kid her age. "This way she didn’t feel odd about doing this on a nightly basis," says Tiffany. "Now she’s sleeping great and wakes up in a much better mood!"
 
Click here for more sleep tips from Family Circle.

More from Family Circle:

• Infographic: How the Average Family Sleeps
• An Easy Bedtime Beauty Plan
• 4 Solutions to Teen Sleep Problems

What helps your family get more sleep?