Writing them down lets you release them, at least temporarily," explains Dr. Kaylor. "One of the best ways to figure out how much sleep you need is to go on vacation," explains Dr. Kaylor. (Image credit: Future)Over the course of several days you can discover your "natural sleep needs." "Do this for several days in a row and you'll quickly discover your natural sleep needs," she says. And once you've learnt your sleep needs, you should find it easier than ever to leave the snooze behind.