Health Tip: Keep a Sleep Diary

Track your zzz's

Posted 12/3/07

(HealthDay News) - If you're having trouble sleeping, you may be able to pinpoint the cause of your problem by keeping a sleep diary.

Helpguide.org suggests what to record in a sleep diary:

The time you woke and went to bed.
The number of hours you slept.
How well you slept.
How often and what time you woke during the night, and what you did to get back to sleep.
Any caffeine or alcohol that you had during the day; what time you had it and how much you had.
What foods and drinks you had during the day, and what time you had them.
Medications that you took that day.
How you were feeling before you went to sleep -- stressed, sad, happy, anxious, etc.