Recently I have had several clients tell me that they are having sleep issues, so I thought that I would use this column to discuss good sleep hygiene. I love that phrase. We use the term to talk about keeping things clean, but perhaps it is time to “clean up” what you do when you go to bed!

We know with children that having the same routine every night allows them to slowly relax and then go to sleep. We know that we do not want to start rough-housing when it is time to go to bed. Same rules apply to adults. Create a routine that you will stick to, including a bedtime! Slow everything down, do not watch anything disturbing as you approach bedtime, including the news. Focus on having only peaceful images, sounds and smells.

We all know that having any kind of screen time at bedtime makes it more difficult to fall asleep. But have you actually made sure to put your phone on the other side of the room?  Even TV can ramp up our brains. Be thoughtful of the type of light that is in your room. Some people find that having a scent helps them to relax even more. Try it and see if it helps you!

Allow your brain to slow down. If you need to grab a journal to put all of your thoughts in first, do that. But then put on soft music, or meditate for a while. There are apps that even have sleep meditations.

Bottom-line, make your sleep routine consistent and peaceful, allow everything to slow down, including your brain. Then allow yourself to drift off. Sweet dreams!