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Sleep Awareness Week
Sleep Awareness Week
March 9 - March 15
Sleep Awareness Week
This annual event, created by the National Sleep Foundation, seeks to promote better sleep as a way to increase overall health and well-being. Every year, the National Sleep Foundation takes this time to reemphasize the important connection between sleep, health, and well-being. Deep, rejuvenating sleep is very important. Sleep Awareness Week takes place in March each year. Sleep disorders are represented by the awareness ribbon color black. Wear a black enamel awareness ribbon pin, black fabric ribbon, or black silicone awareness wristband bracelet to call attention to sleep disorders. All products are available in a non-personalized and personalized version. Fabric ribbons are available in bulk quantities.
The Connection Between Sleep and Health
The connection between sleep and health is real. It impacts every one of us. During Sleep Awareness Week, we share valuable information on how people have been sleeping the past year, while offering research-based advice on the benefits of quality sleep and how it affects health and well-being.
Sleep Hygiene, What it Is and Why It Matters. Learn More During Sleep Awareness Week!
Making some simple but important modifications to your sleep hygiene, your everyday behaviors, and circumstances surrounding your sleep and bedtime patterns can help improve the overall quality and duration of your sleep.
Consider these tips for getting a better night’s sleep:
- Make sure that your bedroom is dark and quiet, and that your pillows and bed are comfortable. The room temperature should be cool.
- Go to bed at the same time every night and know how much sleep your body needs (seven to eight hours per night are recommended for most adults). Getting the same number of hours every night promotes a favorable, repeatable sleep cycle.
- Limit television, cell phone, and computer activities an hour before bedtime. Pursue a bedtime sleep ritual that is more relaxing and less stimulating.
- Create a routine that becomes familiar and relaxing. This prepares your brain for rest, and improves your quality of sleep.
- Limit daytime napping to 30 minutes or less.
- Any exercise, as approved by your physician, may be useful in improving sleep quality.
- Do not eat late. Heavy, rich, fried, and fatty meals eaten late at night exacerbate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and may affect your sleep quality.
- Limit stimulants and caffeinated beverages. Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation. While alcohol may induce sleep, it may also disrupt your sleep later in the night.
- Exposure to daytime light, preferably outdoors as early as possible, and limited exposure to light in the evening help establish a healthy sleep-wake cycle and a good night’s rest.
Keep a Journal
You can also use a journal to help track your sleep patterns and be aware of daily situations that help or hinder a good night’s sleep. Journal before you go to bed each night. You can also do this when you wake up each morning. Further, you can fill a journal out electronically to share with your healthcare provider.
When you have taken steps to improve your sleep hygiene but you haven’t seen positive results, your sleep problem may be more complicated. An ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist, or a sleep specialist can discuss additional tests and treatments for more complex sleep disorders, and which options might be best for you.
