Dreams constitute one source of annoyance to many, and while they are not necessarily to be avoided, still they may disturb the night’s rest.  We may avoid them in some measure by creating conditions free from sensory distractions, for many of our dreams are direct reflections of sensations we are experiencing at the moment.  A dream with an arctic setting may be the result of becoming uncovered on a cold night.  To use an illustration from Ellis:  “A man dreams that he enlists in the army, goes to the front, and is shot.  He is awakened by the slamming of a door.  It seems probable that the enlistment and the march to the field are theories to account for the report which really caused the whole train of thought, though it seemed to be its latest item.”  Such dreams may be partially eliminated by care in arranging conditions so that there will be few distractions.  Especially should they be guarded against in the later hours of the sleep, for we do not sleep so soundly after the first two hours as we do before, and stimuli can more easily impress themselves and affect the brain.

Before leaving the subject of sleep, we should note the benefit to be derived from regularity in sleep.  All Nature seems to move rhythmically and sleep is no exception.  Insomnia may be treated by means of habituating one’s self to get sleepy at a certain time, and there is no question that the rising process may be made easier if one forms the habit of arising at the same time every morning.  To rhythmize this important function is a long step towards the efficient life.

EXERCISE.—­Brain workers do not ordinarily get all the exercise they should.  Particularly is this true of some conscientious students who feel they must not take any time from their study.  But this denotes a false conception of mental action.  The human organism needs exercise.  Man is not a disembodied spirit; he must pay attention to the claims of the body.  Indeed it will be found that time spent in exercise will result in a higher grade of mental work.  This is recognized by colleges and universities by the requirement of gymnasium work, and the opportunity should be welcomed by the student.  Inasmuch as institutions generally give instruction in this subject, we need not go specifically into the matter of exercises.  Perhaps the only caution that need be urged is that against the excessive participation in such exhausting games as foot-ball.  It is seriously to be questioned whether the strenuous grilling that a foot-ball player must undergo does not actually impair his ability to concentrate upon his studies.

If you undertake a course of exercise, by all means have it regular.  Little is gained by sporadic exercising.  Adopt the principle of regularity and rhythmize this important phase of bodily activity as well as all other phases.