You lose more than just your nighttime dreams when you get too little good sleep. According to Shawn Stevenson in his book titled “Sleep Smarter: 21 Essential Strategies to Sleep Your Way to A Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success,” you can lose your dreams for your future as well. After all, he almost lost all of his dreams before discovering what he discusses in this book. He believes that 14 days and the desire to do and feel better form the basis of what you need to achieve success like he has.

His tips include using sunlight to your advantage, limiting screen time, and having a cutoff time for caffeine. He gets into the science behind how sleep functions for humans, offering helpful visuals and diagrams. For instance, the diagram for the circadian rhythm, or sleep cycle, features specific information on how it affects other bodily functions that can make or break your day. He does not shy away from discussing more unconventional sleep-regulation strategies, such as those involving sex or bowel health, as well. The idea is for you to pick out and apply the best strategies for you in your life.

In his introduction, Stevenson details his journey from overweight and overmedicated to becoming a happy, healthy man with a vision for even better things. He claims that these tips are accessible to everyone. His basis for that claim is that humans share most of the same genes with one another. Thus, he concludes that most differences between people are from lifestyles and choices rather than inborn. He sees his message of improving life through better sleep habits as one of empowerment. If you struggle to get a good night’s sleep, this book may have answers for you. Whether you like those answers or use them is up to you.