Sleep and COVID-19

LAST UPDATED: December 26, 2021
Sleep for health during COVID19

​How COVID-19 affects sleep?

  • Being cognizant of how COVID-19 media coverage can affect your sleep is important to inform personal prevention or intervention measures.
  • Increased anxiety can affect sleep patterns making it harder to fall asleep or get back to sleep at night.
  • Feelings of depression are also associated with irregular sleep patterns.

Sleep Facts:

  • Getting less than 5 hours of sleep for more than 5 days is equivalent to legal alcohol intoxication.
  • 7 or more hours of quality sleep is required every 24-hour period.
  • Exposure to light from computers, phones, television, and video games disrupts the ability to fall asleep.
  • Caffeine and energy drinks do not replace the need for sleep.
  • Fatigue from lack of sleep is a leading cause of home/work-place or motor vehicle accidents.  

How to get quality sleep:

  • Set a bedtime that allows 7or more hours of sleep and set a routine every day.
  • Turn off lights and remove light-emitting electronics from your bedroom. To reduce the impact of light use FREE blue light filtering software and apps.
  • Go caffeine-free AT LEAST 6 hours before bedtime.
  • Sleep in a cool dark room and remove any distractions.
  • In loud environments, you may wear earplugs and/or use a sleep mask to create a soothing sleep space.

Seek professional help if you:

  • Experience sleep difficulty.
  • Are often tired during the day (despite sleeping at least 7-9 regularly).
  • Consistently have a reduced ability to perform daytime activities.

*Call your Primary Care or Behavioral Health provider if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.

COVID-19 information:

  •  Click here for the Army Public Health Center COVID-19 communication products
  • The Military Health System Nurse Advice Line is available 24/7 by phone, web chat, and video chat. Call 1-800-874-2273 option #1
  • Army COVID-19 Information Hotline for trusted resources and answers to your questions! 1-800-984-8523 Overseas DSN 312-421-3700 Stateside DSN 421-3700
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