Resources to Perfect Your Sleep.

Many people have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. Others feel that their sleep is restless, light or of poor quality. They wake up feeling unrefreshed. Everyone’s idea of a ‘good night’s sleep’ varies, so the amount of sleep considered ‘a problem’ for one person may not be an issue for someone else. However, sleep problems can start to arise when:

• You’re concerned about the lack of sleep, or your sleep quality
• It starts making you feel tired or sleepy during the daytime
• It’s affecting how well you function at work or when doing everyday activities.

If you are unsure about how well you sleep, try keeping a sleep diary to help keep track of your sleep patterns and how you are feeling.

Click here to download a sleep diary.

If you’re concerned about the amount or the quality of your sleep, it’s important to seek advice from your doctor or your pharmacist.

Sleep hygiene refers to a range of everyday habits that can help you sleep better, such as avoiding alcohol or caffeinated drinks (like tea, coffee, or cola) close to bedtime, waking up at the same time each morning, and ensuring your room is at a comfortable temperature.

Learn more about sleep hygiene or click here to download the sleep hygiene fact sheet.

Poor sleep hygiene (sleep habits) is a common cause of sleep problems.

One of the most important steps in improving your sleep hygiene is to establish a regular sleep routine. This can involve maintaining regular pre-bed activities, keeping your bedroom surroundings relatively constant, and waking up at the same time each day. However, you should avoid going to bed if you aren’t tired, even if it means going to bed at irregular times.

Here are a few steps you could try:

• Avoid caffeinated drinks before going to bed
• Avoid napping during the day
• Limit your alcohol and cigarette use before bedtime

Learn more about sleep hygiene.

Click here to download a sleep hygiene fact sheet