Respond To A Bad Night Of Sleep

If you have a few poor nights of sleep, shift back to a more restrictive sleep window to increase your sleep drive.

Recall what helped you to improve your sleep. Focus on these strategies to help re-set your healthy sleep.

Example:

*  Stay up late to increase sleep drive.

*  Get out of bed when you can’t sleep.

*  Clear your head by writing down your thoughts and worries.

*  Track your sleep.

You will never be back at “square one” because you have learned so many things about healthy sleep. If what you tried before does not work, go back through this guide and try new tools. You may need to use different skills to address the new challenge to your sleep.

See Slip-Ups in a Positive Light

No one is perfect. If you slip back into old habits, like watching TV late in bed, you may feel guilt or conflict. Also, you may view the slip-up as being due to a lack of willpower or strength. You may feel a sense of being helpless or hopeless. These feelings are not productive or motivating.

It is important to understand the feelings that relate to a slip-up. You have not failed. You now have a new challenge to address. Define a new goal. Apply what you already know. Seek out new skills, tools, or support that you need for success.