Sleep hygiene
Habits that protect sleep — a steady wake-up time, wind-down routine, and limiting late screens.
Sleep hygiene is the set of habits that make sleep more likely: consistent times, light in the morning, a dark and cool room at night, less caffeine and alcohol, and stopping screens well before bed.
In bipolar disorder it carries more weight than it does for most people. Sleep is not only a casualty of episodes — it is also one of the things that drives them. One night without sleep can help set off a high, and irregular sleep unsettles the body clock in either direction.
The habit worth anchoring to is a consistent wake time, weekends included; bedtime follows from it. And if your need for sleep suddenly drops and you feel fine on four hours, treat that as a signal rather than a win. Sleep hygiene is support, not treatment: it does not replace medication, and insomnia that does not improve is something to tell your prescriber about.
See also
If you’re in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, you’re not alone and help is available right now. In the US & Canada call or text 988. In the UK & Ireland call 116 123 (Samaritans). Elsewhere, contact your local emergency services — Get Help Now lists lines by country.
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