Getting a good night's sleep is crucial for physical and mental health, with benefits ranging from stronger immunity to improved brain function. Unsurprisingly, many people turn to sleep hygiene tips -- like keeping a regular bedtime, avoiding screens, and cutting out caffeine -- in hopes of sleeping better. While these strategies can work for healthy sleepers, for people with insomnia they may backfire. Experts warn that trying too hard to perfect sleep can reinforce the very problem it is meant to solve.

The biggest misconception in sleep culture is that poor sleepers are simply failing at healthy habits. This places blame on people with insomnia while ignoring the complexity of the disorder. Evidence-based treatments exist beyond sleep hygiene. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is considered the gold-standard intervention, helping people break negative sleep patterns and reduce anxiety around bedtime.

Sleep hygiene tips may work for healthy sleepers, but for those with insomnia, some strategies can unintentionally prolong the problem. Instead of rigid rules, a flexible, individualized approach is needed. Combining realistic expectations with proven therapies like CBT-I or medical treatment like orexin-blocking medications gives people with insomnia the best chance at reclaiming restful, restorative sleep.

Tune your internet dial to NaturalMedicine.news for more tips on how to sleep well using natural remedies, avoiding screen time at night, and alkalizing the body for ultimate restful sleep.