What is sleep hygiene? Sleep hygiene is simply the behaviors that effect one’s ability to sleep, good or bad. By practicing good sleep hygiene, one can experience better, more consistent sleep.
Sleep Hygiene (behaviors) that will help/hinder sleep:
| Good | Bad |
|---|---|
| keep a regular sleep schedule | taking naps during the day |
| exercise regularly during the day and/or light exercise like yoga before sleep | caffeine, nicotine and alcohol near bedtime |
| eat light meal/snack before bed | go to bed hungry or eat heavy meal just before bedtime |
| comfortable mattress dark/quiet, cool room |
noisy, bright, hot bedroom with uncomfortable mattress |
| Make sure you are pleasantly tired before going to bed. | emotionally upsetting conversations and activities before trying to go to sleep |
| Associate your bed with sleep. | using bed for non-sleep activities (watching TV, reading, etc.) |