Welcome to the first session of the SLEEP programme. By now you should have finished your first week of sleep tracking and have hopefully sent back the Dreem Headband. If you haven’t already done so, or are unsure on how to send the device back, please check the instruction sheet (Introduction) or contact the research team on the email below to avoid delays to others starting on their SLEEP journey!

As we explained last week, it is important to continue monitoring your sleep with your sleep diary to start implementing positive change in your sleep routine as you progress in the programme. To prepare for your first therapist-guided session (session 3), it will be helpful to take a look at your sleep journal yourself and think about what aspects you would like to change.

This week we will discuss about the different stages of sleep and what happens in each stage, how sleep works (what sleep homeostasis and circadian rhythms are), and how this is related to time-in-bed restriction therapy, which is a fundamental part of the programme to be discussed in detail during your first therapist-guided session (session 3). We will then cover what factors play a key role in the development and continuation of sleep problems, finishing off the week by identifying some of the common obstacles to a good night sleep with an interactive exercise on sleep hygiene.

You might notice that weekly content has a lot of information in the form of psychoeducation. It’s important to note that the more we understand what causes sleep problems, and gain insights into our own particular sleep needs, the better equipped we’ll be to support optimal rest.

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