Sleep Great IU! Challenge

Sleep Great IU! 2016 was a huge success! Thank you to all who participated!

If you didn’t get a chance to sign up for the online version, download and print the PDF Bedside Log to participate on your own! We want you to sleep great!

Welcome to the Sleep Great IU! Challenge

Sleep affects just about every aspect of your life. If you aren’t getting enough high-quality sleep, it can impair both your physical and mental health. Sleep is important for learning, problem solving, managing stress, and regulating mood. It also promotes a healthy immune system and helps prevent chronic conditions like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Despite the numerous benefits of sleep, many of us are struggling to meet our sleep needs. More than a third of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep.

How Do I Participate?

This 4-week online challenge is for IU employees. During the challenge, you’ll develop 8 habits that promote better sleep. You’ll use your Personal Online Tracker once a week to record which habits you successfully completed for most of the week.

Employees and their spouses are eligible for a Sleep Great IU! t-shirt as an incentive, while supplies last.

Here’s what each week will focus on:

Day Shift WorkersNight Shift Workers
Week 1: Sleep Quantity & RegularityWeek 1: Sleep Quantity & Environment
Week 2: Bedtime RoutineWeek 2: Light Exposure
Week 3: Daylight & Physical ActivityWeek 3: Nutrition & Physical Activity
Week 4: Caffeine & AlcoholWeek 4: Caffeine & Alcohol

Evaluation: Healthy IU is working with the IU School of Medicine and IU School of Nursing to evaluate the challenge. We will use this information to help us in the development of future challenges and programs. Only de-identified data will be shared with the Schools of Medicine and Nursing. The aggregate results may be shared in conference presentations or publications, in an effort to expand knowledge in sleep hygiene promotion.

Sleep Great IU! Resources

Sleep Great Log

Download now!

For the Challenge, you will track your progress online once a week. But for those of us who would like a daily, visual reminder of the sleep goals during the Challenge, there is a printable “Bedside Log” available. You can download the Bedside Log and start working on the Healthy Sleep Environment Checklist on the second page. You will want to keep your Bedside Log near your sleeping area for easy daily tracking once the Challenge starts September 12. (If you use the Bedside Log, please also remember to update your Personal Online Tracker once a week, too!)

The quality of your sleep often depends on the sleep habits of other household members — babies, kids, spouses, and even pets!

Find answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Can't find what you're looking for? E-mail your question to challeng@iu.edu!

On Tuesday, September 27, Noon-12:30 p.m., we will be walking to raise awareness about sleep health!

Wear your Sleep Great IU! t-shirt and join the Sleep Walk on your campus. (You don't have to participate in Sleep Great IU! to join the walk, so make sure to bring all your friends, students, and coworkers!)

Note: If you currently sleep less than 4 hours per night, do not operate a motor vehicle or heavy machinery and consult with a physician.

Join the Sleep Walk!

On Tuesday, September 27, Noon-12:30 p.m., we will be walking to raise awareness about sleep health. Join the Sleep Walk on your campus! Learn more & register.