Which practice supports good sleep hygiene?

• A. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
• B. Drinking caffeine late in the day
• C. Using bright screens before bed
• D. Taking long afternoon naps

Answer: (A)

Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule helps regulate your body's internal clock, making it easier to fall asleep at night and wake up feeling rested. When you go to bed and wake up at the same times every day, your brain learns when to release melatonin and when to stay alert, which reduces how long it takes to fall asleep and minimizes middle-of-the-night awakenings. This steady rhythm is the backbone of good sleep hygiene, supporting quality rest even on busy or stressful days.

Why the other practices don’t fit this goal: consuming caffeine late in the day can keep the brain energized, delaying sleep onset; using bright screens before bed emits blue light that suppresses melatonin and signals wakefulness; taking long afternoon naps can decrease sleep pressure later in the day, making it harder to sleep well at night.