A proper sleep schedule is made through a number of keystone habits which I will try to write down here:

A bedtime and wakeup routine to inform your body when you are heading to bed and when you are waking up (shower, brush teeth, put on pajamas/clothes, making the bed, etc).

A sleep schedule which allows for your circadian rythims to work at their best (circadian rythims work in 90 minute intervals, so it is often best to aim for 7 and a half hours, or 9 hours of sleep).

About a half an hour to an hour of doing nothing before you sleep to provide ample time to fall asleep (I highly recommend meditation).

Daily exercise to make sure you are tired (this includes mental exercise).

A healthy diet, and not eating much just before you go to bed (A small snack like an apple is one thing, a couple brownies and some milk is something else entirely).

No distractions once you are going to bed, this includes a phone, computer, or any electronics (Some recommend reading before bed, I find this doesn't help me as I get engrossed in the book and stay up all night, if it works for you then feel free to do that).

Intentionally thinking of the time you want to wake up at so your brain is informed of when it should be getting up (your brain has been dealing with time since you were born, it's used to knowing when 7:00am is and it really will wake you up at that time if you have gotten enough sleep).

This is all exhausting. I personally aim for one new habit a month. At that rate when considering all the sub habits to form before each point is fulfilled I would only be finished after just over a year. And while my sleep may be divine, I don't think you wanted a year long quest to perfect your sleeping patterns when you asked your question. So I am going to give you a more bare bones strategy to fullfil your needs for sleep:

First off, get melatonin, use it on the first day, but as few days afterwards as possible, if you use it too much your body will stop producing as much melatonin and then you can kiss a good sleep schedule goodbye.

Secondly, exercise about an hour before bed. The exercise doesn't have to be logical, I run up a hill, do push-ups, situps, lunges, jump up and down, etc until I am tired. The goal isn't the workout, it is being tired of moving.

Thirdly, don't touch or look at screens after an hour before bed. Obviously it isn't the end of the world if you glance, but that blue light can kill your chances of sleeping.

Fourth(ly?) Set your schedule, if you want 11 to 7 then be in bed by 10:30 no matter what, it's not fun, but think of all the times during the day that you dreamed of this exact moment and bed will seem much more appealing.

Finally make sure when you wake up there is no snooze button, just get up, you will feel much worse if you wait longer.

And that is it. Melatonin, exercise, no screens, set bedtime, and wake up. Just remember, if you are going to sleep at night and you didn't get any sleep before (or just not enough sleep) then you really are tired, even if your brain and body tell you that you aren't.

Edit: my formating sucked. So I repaired it just a little.

dec 25 2018 ∞
jan 14 2019 +