Let a Sleep Diary Help You Rest Easier

Whether you’re walking down the street or dialing into a Zoom conference, about 1 in every 3 humans you encounter each day is dealing with a sleep problem.

Chances are, you’re one of them.

If you’ve been living life feeling tired and drained, know that there’s a lot you can do to achieve a good night’s sleep.

It starts with figuring out what might be getting in the way. Experts recommend something called a sleep diary. It can be as simple as a notebook you already have. Or you can download this sleep diary.

Grab a pencil and commit to tracking your sleep habits every day for two weeks. You’ll track things like these:

• The time you went to bed
• How long it took you to fall asleep
• When you woke up during the night
• How long, each time, it took you to fall back asleep
• The time you woke up in the morning
• How many naps you took that day, and how long each lasted
• The medications you used
• How much caffeine or alcohol you drank

How can tracking change your sleep?

There are two powerful outcomes that happen when you take time to look at what’s happening with your sleep habits.

1. You’ll discover unexpected sleep barriers.
   
   Maybe you’re eating large meals too close to bedtime. Maybe your last cup of coffee is too late in the day. Maybe your bedtime and wake-up schedules are all over the map.
   
   Any of these can have a significant impact on the amount, depth, and quality of your sleep.
2. You’ll have great information for working with your doctor.
   
   There’s a solution for virtually every sleep problem. But sometimes you need help from a professional. If sleep issues last more than several weeks, make an appointment with your primary care provider.
   
   The results of your sleep diary will help your health team get to solving your problem faster.

Sleep is medicine.

Sleep isn’t just for helping you feel less tired. Good quality sleep helps your body reboot, repairing tissue damage, resetting your brain, and restoring your energy.¹

So if your sleep isn’t what you’d like it to be, start tracking today.

If you’d like to learn more ways to improve your sleep—and your overall well-being—a MOBE Guide can help. Get started today.

Reference:

^{1. “How a Sleep Diary Can Transform How You Feel,” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/how-a-sleep-diary-can-transform-how-you-feel/art-20342128.}