sleep smarts

Research shows that keeping your brain balanced and healthy is essential for calming the migraine storm.

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Why Should I Care?

Having the right balance between being asleep and being awake is important for keeping the brain healthy. Getting enough sleep helps nerve cells in your brain work properly by helping them grow and repair damage from stress. Having good sleep habits also helps keep you from getting sick and can actually improve your school performance! If your sleep-wake rhythm gets thrown off (e.g., by staying up too late, sleeping late on the weekends, drinking lots of caffeine, sleeping for a long time during the day, or using your cell phone as a teddy bear at night), you help set up the conditions for a migraine storm. In fact, some researchers think that migraines are a way your body uses to try to force you to rebalance your sleep-wake rhythm! For additional information on sleep and its benefits, click here.

What's your excuse?


I don’t have time to sleep.

That’s okay, particularly if you don’t care about fatigue, low energy, difficulties concentrating, forgetfulness, learning problems, colds, acne, irritability, and headaches – all potential results of not prioritizing sleep!

I can’t sleep well.

A common complaint, but think of sleep as a skill that you can get better at if you practice good sleep habits. Click here to go back to the test your knowledge section to find out how to improve your sleep.

I catch up on sleep on the weekends.

No you don’t.

I sleep all day long already, I don’t need more sleep.

Bad strategy – be sure to check out the test your knowledge section to see why.

I’m not tired at night.

It’s remotely possible that you are one of the 10% or so of the population that inherited the “night owl” trait – but owls can be trained (and you’ll need to be, unless nothing in your life starts before 11am)! Go to the test your knowledge section to learn healthy sleep habits that even night owls can learn to use!