Sleep plays a vital role in our daily life. It is a natural state where our body steadily held in rest and mind get to breathe before it starts to work hard again. As relax is important to a healthy living creature, taking care of sleep hygiene becoming one of the most important parts in the management of depression. Every depression patient is  advised to improve their sleep hygiene. Here are several things that you have to watch out in order to get a better sleep hygiene.

1. Set the time to sleep and wake everyday and no daytime naps.

2. Conducive sleep environment:

* Bedroom for sleep
* Temperature
* Noise
* Lighting

3. Light dinner at least three hours before sleep.

4. Avoid caffeine after 5 p.m (coffee, tea, Chinese tea, cola and dark chocolate).

5. Avoid alcohol / cigarettes.

6. Exercise (eg: aerobic) 5 hours before sleep.

7. Hot water bath 2 hours before sleep.

8. Hot milk-based drink before sleep.

9. Preparing for sleep – developing a ritual:

* Brush teeth
* Activity that requires less concentration / effort
* Change into sleep attire
* Read a book

10. If you can’t fall asleep, don’t lie in bed. Move to another room and read / watch TV till you feel sleepy again. Associate your bed with sleep.

Hope this information  may help you solve your sleep problem!