Monday Campaign: Sleep Awareness Week

March 11, 2024 / Get Well

This year’s Sleep Awareness Week is March 10–16, and this past Sunday marked the return to daylight saving time. Every year, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) takes this time to reemphasize the vital connection between sleep and our overall health and wellbeing. The NSF encourages us to become our “best slept selves.”

Small steps during the day go a long way in helping improve sleep at night.
Did you know that a good night’s sleep starts with what we do during the day? In fact, from the moment we wake up, we’re affecting the sleep we will get that night. The NSF’s 2022 Sleep in America Poll revealed that Americans’ daily routines create less-than-ideal conditions for a good night’s sleep. As it turns out, many of us could do a better job at establishing healthy daytime behaviors to improve our sleep.

The good news is that we all have the potential to improve our sleep — just by taking some small steps during the day. And changing our daytime habits not only sets the stage for sounder rest but also leads to lower stress levels and better overall health.

Check out the NSG graphic below for simple changes — day and night — to help us become our “best slept selves.”

Want more info? Consider the following resources:

Flyer from National Sleep Foundation. Blue background with graphic in the center featuring stick figure surrounded by six arrows in a circular pattern. 

At top, "Practice these six small steps for healthy sleep."

Above graphic, as header: "Be Your Best Slept Self."

Below circular image is list of behaviors to do during the day and night: 

Daytime
 1. Light: Spend time in bright light during the day, natural light or equivalent brightness. 
2. Exercise: Exercise regularly for a deeper sleep. Aim for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. 
3. Mealtimes: Eat your meals at consistent times day after day. 

Nighttime
4. Avoid: Avoid heavy meals, nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime. 
5. Wind-down: Use a consistent routine with a relaxing wind-down to help get the sleep you need each night (7–9 hours for most adults, with same sleep and wake times). 
6. Environment: Put your devices away an hour before bed and sleep in a quiet, cool, and dark environment. 

At bottom: Powered by the National Sleep Foundation.

Submitted by: 
Dahlia Henry-Tett, Chief Wellness Officer (CWO), employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu