The Guest House is committed to helping everyone get a great night's sleep. In 2011, we partnered with the Stanford Sleep Medicine Center to establish SleepWell in order to promote sleep education and positive sleeping habits at Stanford. Below are some simple tips everyone can use to improve their sleep:
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Avoid exercise, alcohol, and stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine before bedtime.
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Avoid staying in bed longer than 20 minutes if you wake up and can’t fall back asleep. Get out of bed and do something relaxing like reading.
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Avoid napping during the day.
- Establish a pattern of relaxing behaviors before bedtime. Activities such as meditation, yoga, or bathing can prepare your body for sleep.
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Bright light in the morning can help your body adjust to being awake. Spending 30 minutes in sunlight, within five minutes of waking up, adapts your brain to the new time.
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If you have trouble clearing your mind at bedtime, set aside a few minutes 2-3 hours before bedtime to create a worry list. Mentally address any worries or concerns, so they don’t impair your ability to fall asleep.