World Health News

SLEEP HYGIENE

Sleep hygiene is defined as behaviors that help promote good sleep using behavioral interventions.

Sleep hygiene tips:

Maintain a regular sleep routine

Go to bed at the same time. Wake up at the same time. Ideally, your schedule will remain the same (+/- 20 minutes) every night of the week.

Don’t stay in bed awake for more than 5-10 minutes.

If you find your mind racing, or worrying about not being able to sleep during the middle of the night, get out of bed, and sit in a chair in the dark. Do your mind racing in the chair until you are sleepy, and then return to bed. No TV or internet during these periods, that will just stimulate you more than desired.
If this happens several times during the night, that is OK. Just maintain your regular wake time, and try to avoid naps.

Don’t watch TV or read in bed.

Drink caffeinated drinks with caution

The effects of caffeine may last for several hours after ingestion. Caffeine can fragment sleep, and cause difficulty initiating sleep. If you drink caffeine, use it only before noon.
Remember that soda and tea contain caffeine as well.

Avoid inappropriate substances that interfere with sleep

Cigarettes, alcohol, and over-the-counter medications may cause fragmented sleep.

Exercise regularly

Exercise before 2 pm every day. Exercise promotes continuous sleep.
Avoid rigorous exercise before bedtime. Rigorous exercise circulates endorphins into the body which may cause difficulty initiating sleep.

Have a quiet, comfortable bedroom

Set your bedroom thermostat at a comfortable temperature. Generally, a little cooler is better than a little warmer.
Turn off the TV and other extraneous noise that may disrupt sleep. Background ‘white noise’ like a fan is OK.
Your bedroom should be dark. Turn off bright lights.
Have a comfortable mattress.

Have a comfortable pre-bedtime routine