Strengthen Your Home Team

Discuss your sleep needs with people you live with. They need to understand your schedule and what you are doing to improve your sleep.

*  Post a calendar with your work schedule.

*  Include your sleeping hours on the calendar.

*  Share what you have learned about creating a healthy sleep environment.

*  Share what you have learned about why sleep is important.

*  Explain why you are making changes to your routines.

*  Agree upon a plan for noise and light levels in the house during your sleep hours (especially if you are sleeping during daylight hours).

*  Ask for help if you need it to do household chores like cleaning, grocery shopping, and getting kids ready for school. Agree upon tasks and post a schedule where everyone can see it.

*  Schedule deliveries, repairs, and appointments during times you plan on being awake.

Plan ahead as much as possible. Write out a plan that includes your schedule and the schedule of those in your household. This will help you see if and when you need help and give you time to plan for it. Planning ahead can help reduce anxiety and last-minute scrambling to cover tasks.