Sleep Hygiene

If the term 'sleep hygiene' is new to you, let me make one thing perfectly clear......

... it has nothing to do with taking a shower before bed (unless that helps you to sleep better!).

That's because 'sleep hygiene' covers just about anything that relates to your sleep habits. Things such as -

• The time you go to bed at night, when you wake up in the morning and how many hours you sleep in between


• Your sleep environment (your bedroom!)


• Your bedtime routine


• Your normal diet and exercise habits

Your Life v. Sleep

Grueling 80 hour work-weeks, crazy shifts, 24 hour malls, constant access to TV and the internet, energy drinks and espresso coffee on every corner, a sedentary lifestyle and more... they all conspire against us.

Although everyone is different, research shows that most adults need between 7 and 9 hours sleep every night. Children, teens, the sick and the elderly need more.

Of course there are those 'rare birds' who exuded energy on as little as 4 or 5 hours of shut-eye a night, but most of us will crash and burn if we try to keep up with them!

In terms of your individual need for sleep - the rule of thumb is to find the number of hours required to keep you feeling wide-awake, energized and alert the next day - then make sure you get that much sleep every night.

Improving your sleep hygiene doesn't cost a lot of money, but it does mean that you need to spend some time evaluating your current sleep habits and environment.

Then you need to commit to making changes that will promote healthier patterns and improve the quality and quantity of your sleep.

Society as a whole doesn't put enough emphasis on the importance of a good nights' sleep, and many of us are paying too high a price for that.

Making Sleep A Priority

Physical and emotional illness, relationship difficulties, loss of work-based productivity, accidents, drug/alcohol dependence, even suicide can, in many instances, be linked to sleep deprivation.

• Making Sleep A Priority
  Tips to help you establish a regular sleep schedule that suits your individual needs and lifestyle.


• Improving Your Sleep Environment
  Learn how to avoid the sleep stealers in your bedroom and increase the potential for a good nights sleep.


• The Benefits Of A Bedtime Routine
  If you thought this was just for kids, think again! A regular, relaxing pre-sleep ritual can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep for longer.


• Looking At Your Diet & Exercise Habits
  What you eat or drink, and when and how you exercise can have a direct impact on the length and quality of your sleep. Find out if you're sabotaging yourself here!

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