Understanding Sleep Hygiene: How to Create an Environment for Restorative Sleep
- Ester van der Merwe

- Jul 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 22
In today’s fast-paced world, good-quality sleep is increasingly elusive. While natural supplements like DreamState Restorative Sleep can support your body’s internal rhythm, lasting sleep health begins with your habits — and that’s where sleep hygiene comes in.
Sleep hygiene refers to the set of behaviours, environmental factors, and rituals that prepare your body and mind for restful, consistent sleep. It’s about creating a life that doesn’t just make room for sleep — but actually supports it.

Why Sleep Hygiene Matters
Sleep is not passive. It’s an active, biological process that requires both the right internal chemistry and the right external environment. Poor sleep hygiene — such as exposure to blue light at night, irregular sleep schedules, or overstimulating routines — can override the body’s natural sleep signals and leave you wide awake when you most need rest.
Even the most effective sleep formula will work best when paired with habits that reduce interference and reinforce your circadian rhythm.
Core Principles of Healthy Sleep Hygiene
Here are key practices that promote deeper, more restorative rest:
1. Keep a Consistent Sleep Schedule
Your body’s internal clock — the circadian rhythm — functions best with regularity. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
2. Create a Screen-Free Wind-Down Window
Devices like phones, tablets, and TVs emit blue light, which suppresses melatonin production and delays sleep. Aim to disconnect from screens at least 60 minutes before bed.
3. Dim the Lights in the Evening
Bright lighting, especially from overhead sources, can trick the brain into thinking it’s still daytime. Use warm, low lighting in the evening to signal the body to start winding down.
4. Establish a Wind-Down Ritual
A predictable routine before bed helps train the nervous system to associate those behaviours with sleep. This might include:
Taking DreamState Restorative Sleep with a glass of water
Reading a physical book
Light stretching or breathwork
Gentle skincare or a warm shower
5. Limit Caffeine and Alcohol
Caffeine can linger in the body for up to 8 hours, while alcohol, although sedating at first, disrupts the second half of the sleep cycle. Avoid both in the hours leading up to bedtime.
6. Optimize Your Sleep Environment
Your bedroom should feel like a sanctuary for rest. Consider the following:
Temperature: Ideal range is 16–20°C (60–68°F)
Darkness: Use blackout curtains or a sleep mask
Sound: Keep noise low or use a white noise machine if needed
Clutter: A tidy, minimal space reduces visual stress
7. Use Your Bed Only for Sleep (and Intimacy)
Train your brain to associate your bed with rest — not work, TV, or scrolling. This reinforces the bed-sleep connection.
8. Don’t Force Sleep
If you can’t sleep after 20–30 minutes, get up and do something calming in low light — like reading or meditating. Lying in bed awake can lead to anxiety around sleep.
DreamState Restorative Sleep and Sleep Hygiene: A Holistic Pairing
DreamState Restorative Sleep is formulated to support the neurological and hormonal processes that enable natural sleep. Its ingredients — including Magnesium L-Threonate, Apigenin, L-Theanine, and African Potato Root — work best when your environment and habits support the same goal.
Taken as part of a consistent nightly ritual, DreamState Restorative Sleep complements the practices of good sleep hygiene, helping you drift off more easily and wake up more restored.
Explore More in our resources. For a deeper dive into creating your own evening ritual, managing nighttime anxiety, or designing a dream-friendly bedroom, visit the Sleep Hygiene section of our Resources. We’ve created it to support your journey toward rest — one night at a time.







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