Practice Healthy Sleep Habits
October is ADHD Awareness Month! Created by a coalition of ADHD organizations- ACO, ADDA, and CHADD- the goal of ADHD Awareness Month is to share reliable information about ADHD and its treatments worldwide. Their website has so much information, including Myths and Facts about ADHD!
One great section of the website is daily tips for life with ADHD. A tip that caught my eye today is Practice Healthy Sleep Habits.
We all know sleep is important, and yet it can be so hard to get the sleep we need. The CHADD article Prioritize Your Sleep for Good Health says: "One in three adults are not getting enough sleep. Among adults who have ADHD, that number jumps to two in three adults—about 67 percent—struggling to sleep."
For everyone, under sleeping contributes to brain fog and decreased executive functioning. However, if you have ADHD, sleep deprivation can make your ADHD symptoms even worse.
So how can we make better decisions around sleep? When my daughter was little, we followed a regular sleep ritual that included bath time, brushing teeth, PJs, and a story. This ritual prepped her for bed and queued her for the next step. We can do this for ourselves as adults too. This Everyday Health article has some practical suggestions for improved sleep for those with ADHD:
Set a Sleep Schedule and Stick to It
Create a Relaxing Sleep Space
Put Screens Away 1 Hour Before Bedtime
Get Plenty of Exercise During the Day
Avoid Alcohol & Limit Caffeine
Try Mindfulness, Meditation, or Other Relaxation Techniques
Try implementing one of the above changes and track whether it makes a difference. Working with a coach is also a great way to test out and develop better self-care routines, including sleep hygiene. Reach out if you could use some sleep support!
For more tips for living with ADHD, check out adhdawarenessmonth.org.
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