A sleep diary is a record of an individual's sleeping and waking times with related information, usually over a period of several weeks. It is self-reported or can be recorded by a care-giver.

The sleep diary, or sleep log, is a tool used by doctors and patients. It is a useful resource in the diagnosis and treatment of especially circadian rhythm sleep disorder

Circadian rhythm sleep disorder

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders are a family of sleep disorders affecting, among other things, the timing of sleep. People with circadian rhythm sleep disorders are unable to sleep and wake at the times required for normal work, school, and social needs. They are generally able to get enough sleep...

s, and in monitoring whether treatment of those and other sleep disorder

Sleep disorder

A sleep disorder, or somnipathy, is a medical disorder of the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders are serious enough to interfere with normal physical, mental and emotional functioning...

s is successful.

Sleep diaries may be used in conjunction with actigraphy

Actigraphy

Actigraphy is a non-invasive method of monitoring human rest/activity cycles. A small actigraph unit, also called an actimetry sensor, is worn by a patient to measure gross motor activity. Motor activity often under test is that of the wrist, measured by an actigraph in a wrist-watch-like package....

.

In addition to being a useful tool for medical professionals in the diagnosis of sleep

Sleep

Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by reduced or absent consciousness, relatively suspended sensory activity, and inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, and is more easily reversible than...

 problems, a sleep diary can help make individuals more aware of the parameters affecting their sleep. This data alone can help people self-diagnose what helps them get a good sleep.

Components

The information contained in a sleep diary includes some or all of the following points:

1. The time the person had wanted or intended to wake up
2. The time the person woke up
3. Whether the person woke up spontaneously, by an alarm clock, or because of another (specified) disturbance
4. The time the person got out of bed
5. A few words about how the person felt during the day (mood, drowsiness, etc.), often on a scale from 1 to 5 and the major cause
6. The start and end times of any daytime naps and exercises
7. The name, dosage and time of any drugs used including medication, sleep aids, caffeine and alcohol
8. The time and type/ heaviness of evening meal
9. Activities the last hour before bedtime, such as meditation, watching TV, playing PC-games
10. Stress level before bedtime, often on a scale from 1 to 5 and the major cause
11. The time the person tried to fall asleep
12. The time the person thinks sleep onset occurred
13. Activity during aforementioned two moments (remaining eyes closed, meditating, ...)
14. The presumed cause, number, time, and length of any nighttime awakenings and activities during these moments
15. Quality of sleep
16. Level of comfortableness of any recalled good or bad dreams

Data collection

Sleep logs are often hand-drawn on graph paper

Graph paper

Graph paper, graphing paper, grid paper or millimeter paper is writing paper that is printed with fine lines making up a regular grid. The lines are often used as guides for plotting mathematical functions or experimental data and drawing diagrams. It is commonly found in mathematics and...

, as a rule one week per page. Specialized software for creating sleep logs is also available; a spreadsheet

Spreadsheet

A spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper accounting worksheet. It displays multiple cells usually in a two-dimensional matrix or grid consisting of rows and columns. Each cell contains alphanumeric text, numeric values or formulas...

 or database software

Database management system

A database management system is a software package with computer programs that control the creation, maintenance, and use of a database. It allows organizations to conveniently develop databases for various applications by database administrators and other specialists. A database is an integrated...

can also be used. Online services can also be used to track daily sleep patterns.

Samples diaries

• Trinitas Regional Medical Center — hours horizontal, with shading
• Circadian Sleep Disorders Association — days run horizontal
• http://www.aap.org/sections/dbpeds/pdf/sleeplog.pdf — days run horizomtal, basic outline

External links

• Sleeplessness and Circadian Rhythm Disorder — synopsis by Mary E. Cataletto, MD on eMedicine, August 2008
• Charts and analyses of sleep conditions — Dr Piotr Wozniak and Prof. Edward Gorzelanczyk, with link to SleepChart application (Windows)