It’s that time of year again.

The days are getting longer and many of us have to turn our clocks ahead this weekend. That makes it a good time to talk about sleep hygiene.

Insomnia is a big problem for many of us. Whether it is primary insomnia or sleeplessness caused by other problems such as pain, worry, or kids who don’t sleep well, there are things we can do to improve our sleep patterns before heading to a health care provider for a prescription.

Sleep hygiene is the term used to describe things we should do in order to sleep better. Like dental hygiene helps prevent dental problems, sleep hygiene helps prevent sleep issues. Most of the recommendations for improving sleep seem so obvious to some of us that we may not realize what an effect they can have on our sleep patterns. Here are a few of the recommendations of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine:

1. Go to bed and get up around the same time every day.

2. Use your bed only for sleep and sex.

3. Limit caffeine and other stimulants after morning or early afternoon.

4. Be physically active, but not within a few hours of bedtime.

5. Limit alcohol intake.

6. Keep your bedroom dark and slightly on the cool side.

7. Have a bedtime ritual.

Spring will be here soon, and you want to enjoy it. By following a few simple guidelines, you are likely to improve your sleep, your mood, and your energy level.