Sleep hygiene: foundations, implications, and strategies for enhancing sleep health

Sleep hygiene is an array of behavioural and environmental practices that promote regular, sound and sufficient sleep. As sleep disorders such as insomnia, delayed sleep phase disorder and obstructive sleep apnea continue to rise in prevalence. The importance of sleep hygiene has even been recognized in non-clinical as well as clinical groups. This review discusses the biological need for sleep, defines components of adequate sleep hygiene, highlights evidence-based advantages of good sleep and examines compliance challenges. It also discusses sleep hygiene in certain populations such as adolescents, shift workers, and in those with mental health disorders. The review ends with a focus on public health and digital health interventions to enhance world sleep health.