What is sleep hygiene?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, practicing good sleep hygiene could hold the key to better, more consistent nights of rest. If it’s a concept you’re not familiar with, sleep hygiene refers to having daily routines and a bedroom environment that promote consistent sleep. Having ‘ideal’ or perfect sleep hygiene might not be achievable for us all due to a multitude of reasons, but the closer we can get to it, the better our rest will be. With a good night of sleep being so foundational to quality of life, it’s important to know what exactly sleep hygiene looks like in a daily routine and how we can emulate good practices.  

Keeping a consistent sleep schedule, making your bedroom cozy and relaxing, building in some quiet time to your evening, and exercising during the day can all contribute to ideal sleep hygiene. Paying attention to sleep hygiene is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to achieve better rest. What’s great about it is that sleep hygiene practices can be tailored to fit your lifestyle. In the process, you can create positive habits to make it easier to sleep soundly throughout the night and wake up well-rested. Here are some of our favorites sleep hygiene practices. 

• Upgrade your mattress. Here at Milton Sleep Co, we use cooling layers, recyclable materials, and a variety of firmnesses that are designed for the way you sleep, the position you sleep in, and the comfort you seek for your best night's sleep. 
• Have a fixed wake-up time. Regardless of what day of the week it is, try to wake up around the same time each day (including weekends!). Doing so can help keep your circadian rhythm consistent and lead to less fluctuation in alertness/tiredness. 

• Prioritize sleep as part of your routine. It might be tempting to skip sleep for work, socializing, study, or exercise, but it’s important to treat sleep as a priority. 
• Don’t overdo the naps. Naps can be a useful for a mid-day rejuvenation, but they can make it harder to sleep at night.