How ADHD affects sleep — and what you can do to help
Quick tips to help with ADHD and sleep
- Quick tip 1Stick to a bedtime routine.
Stick to a bedtime routine.People with ADHD need to start winding down early in the evening. Be consistent — follow the same order every night. For example, bath or shower, pajamas, picking out clothes and packing up for the morning, and then reading before bed.
Lack of sleep is a common problem among people with ADHD. The causes of sleep issues in people with ADHD aren’t fully understood yet. But the relationship between ADHD and poor sleep is clear. Many kids and adults with ADHD have trouble:
Falling asleep: Winding down at night can be a big challenge for people with ADHD. They often struggle to “stop thinking” when trying to get to sleep.
Staying asleep: Kids with ADHD are more prone to nightmares, bedwetting, and sleep disorders, such as restless leg syndrome.
Waking up in the morning: Staying up late makes it harder to wake up in the morning. This can be a tough habit to break, especially among people with ADHD who feel more productive at night.
All of these challenges can create problems during the day. People who haven’t gotten enough sleep often have trouble getting started in the morning and staying alert all day. And that often leads to irritability and more inattentiveness.
Explore ways to help create a healthy sleep cycle and prevent overtiredness.
Dive deeper
How ADHD medication can affect sleep
Why anxiety may also be a factor
Next steps
