I used to need 8 to 9 hours of sleep to function optimally too. Now 6 hours is more than enough. Two things really helped me:
1: a healthier diet and more active lifestyle
2: meditation
In the beginning I also used sleep induction tapes. These work really great. You'll fall asleep faster and deeper. After a while I stopped using these because daily meditation really seemed to do the trick for me. And on top of that it really helped me focus better and longer. I get more done in less time.
Give meditation a try. You'll be more productive and sleep less. It's like having 28 hour days!
