Practicing Good Sleep Habits
Getting a good night’s sleep will not only help you avoid a Drowsy Driving situation, it’s also a critical component to living a long healthy life. Get started on the path to increased alertness and better overall health by using the interactive checklist below to evaluate your sleeping habits. If you’d like a downloadable pdf of this checklist, click here.
- Wait until you are sleepy before going to bed.
- Use pre-sleep rituals to help initiate relaxation each night before bed.
- Avoid eating heavy meals near bedtime.
- Maintain a quiet, dark and cool bedroom environment
- If you are not asleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed.
- Keep a regular sleep/wake schedule.
- Keep a regular daily schedule.
- Get a full night’s sleep on a regular basis.
- If possible, avoid naps. If needed, keep naps to less than 40 minutes.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol within six hours of your bedtime.
- Exercise regularly, but avoid strenuous exercise within four hours of your bedtime.
- Avoid reading, eating, watching TV, talking on the phone, or using electronic devices in bed.
- Do not smoke or ingest nicotine within two hours of your bedtime.
- Avoid the use of sleeping pills. They can make sleep disorders worse. Always speak to your physician before taking any sleep aids.
Are You at Risk for Driving Drowsy?
It’s estimated that over 6000 deaths per year are due to driving drowsy — that’s 500 deaths per month. Take our quiz and find out if you are at risk. 6 lucky respondents will receive a free My Pillow®!
Recommendations compiled from the National Sleep Foundation, National Institute for Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
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