“Sleep hygiene is essentially the prep work we can do to protect our sleep and ensure we sleep well,” says sleep medicine specialist Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, DO, MS. [2] It's about creating a consistent routine that tells your body when it's time to wind down and a sleep space that supports uninterrupted rest. While it may seem trivial, good sleep hygiene is essential for physical health, mental clarity, and emotional well-being.
In healthy adults, short-term sleep disruption can lead to increased stress, diminished quality of life, emotional distress, mood disorders, and deficits in cognition, memory, and performance. When sleep disruption becomes a long-term issue, it can contribute to more serious health problems, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, weight-related issues, type 2 diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders, among others.