
Sleep is a restorative occupation that directly impacts our daytime functioning. Sleep insufficiency can have a direct impact on our other occupations, and it is therefore important that occupational therapists are involved in sleep management. Occupational therapists can help patients with sleep problems and related mental health issues by developing sleep management programs using environmental intervention, assistive devices/equipment, the use of activity, CBTi, and lifestyle interventions. Understanding factors contributing to successful sleep and factors disrupting sleep will aid in setting specific goals and implementing appropriate interventions to optimise sleep quality and quantity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Occupational therapists need to understand sleep to be able to set specific goals and implement appropriate interventions to optimise sleep quality and quantity | Understanding factors contributing to successful sleep and factors disrupting sleep will aid in setting specific goals and implementing appropriate interventions |
| Occupational therapists need to understand sleep to be able to address sleep problems in older adults | Sleep problems are prevalent in late adulthood |
| Occupational therapists need to understand sleep to be able to address the interrelation between sleep and daytime functioning | Excessive or insufficient sleep or daytime activities will contribute to occupational imbalance |
| Occupational therapists need to understand sleep to be able to address the occupation of sleep | Sleep is considered a restorative occupation, and sleep insufficiency has a direct impact on all other occupations |
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What You'll Learn

The impact of sleep on occupational performance
Sleep is considered a restorative occupation, and sleep insufficiency has a direct impact on all of our other occupations. Sleep's main purpose is to help us recover and recuperate from daytime occupations and build up energy to engage in tasks that are meaningful to us. It directly impacts occupational performance and participation. Therefore, it is very necessary that occupational therapists are involved in sleep.
Occupational therapists need to understand sleep to be able to provide interventions for patients with sleep problems and related mental health issues. Understanding factors contributing to successful sleep and factors disrupting sleep will aid in setting specific goals and implementing appropriate interventions to optimize sleep quality and quantity. For example, depending on the client’s sleep issues, goals targeting factors that influence sleep physiology (circadian rhythm or sleep homeostasis), arousal levels, or sleep hygiene (behaviours and environmental factors promoting sleep) may be warranted.
There is a growing need for occupational therapists to address sleep problems in older adults, as well as in those with mental health issues. However, it is questionable whether occupational therapists receive sufficient education about sleep and how to support it in their practice. A survey of entry-level occupational therapy sleep education curricula may be the next step to better understand the scope of sleep education in occupational therapy programs.
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The link between sleep and occupation
Sleep is considered a restorative occupation, and sleep insufficiency has a direct impact on all of our other occupations. Sleep's main purpose is to help us recover and recuperate from daytime occupations and build up energy to engage in tasks that are meaningful to us. It directly impacts occupational performance and participation, and therefore it is very necessary that occupational therapists are involved in sleep.
Occupational therapists may need additional education about the occupation of sleep, how to write goals pertaining to sleep, and appropriate interventions to address sleep goals. Understanding factors contributing to successful sleep and factors disrupting sleep will aid in setting specific goals and implementing appropriate interventions to optimize sleep quality and quantity. For example, depending on the client’s sleep issues, goals targeting factors that influence sleep physiology (circadian rhythm or sleep homeostasis), arousal levels, or sleep hygiene (behaviours and environmental factors promoting sleep) may be warranted.
There is a growing need for occupational therapists to provide interventions for patients with sleep problems and related mental health issues. Only a few conceptual models or frameworks, like the PEOP model or the concept of occupational balance, have attempted to discuss how sleep is related to occupation, and how it could fit into occupational therapy practice.
In light of the ageing population and the prevalence of sleep problems in late adulthood, it is essential for occupational therapists to address sleep problems in older adults. This includes integrating sleep interventions throughout the care continuum, such as CBT-I, physical activity, and multi-component interventions.
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Sleep insufficiency and its impact on other occupations
Sleep insufficiency has a direct impact on all other occupations. Sleep is considered a restorative occupation, helping us to recover and build up energy for daytime tasks. It directly impacts occupational performance and participation. Therefore, it is very necessary that occupational therapists are involved in sleep.
Occupational therapists may need additional education about the occupation of sleep, how to write goals pertaining to sleep, and appropriate interventions to address sleep goals. Understanding factors contributing to successful sleep and factors disrupting sleep will aid in setting specific goals and implementing appropriate interventions to optimise sleep quality and quantity.
A survey of entry-level occupational therapy sleep education curricula may be the next step to better understand the scope of sleep education in occupational therapy programs. Of the participants, 92% indicated that occupational therapists should be better prepared to evaluate and treat issues related to the occupation of sleep after graduating from an entry-level occupational therapy program.
In light of the ageing population and the prevalence of sleep problems in late adulthood, it is essential for occupational therapists to address sleep problems in older adults. This includes supporting patients with sleep intervention areas that align with the Framework (i.e., CBT-I, physical activity, multi-component interventions, and other miscellaneous interventions).
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Sleep interventions for older adults
Sleep is considered a restorative occupation, and sleep insufficiency has a direct impact on all other occupations. Sleep's main purpose is to help us recover and recuperate from daytime occupations and build up energy to engage in tasks that are meaningful to us. It directly impacts occupational performance and participation, and therefore it is very necessary that occupational therapists are involved in sleep.
Occupational therapists can help patients with sleep problems and related mental health issues by providing interventions. These interventions can include changing routines for sleep, creating and following a bedtime routine, and implementing relaxation techniques during the day or before bed. Depending on the client's sleep issues, goals targeting factors that influence sleep physiology (circadian rhythm or sleep homeostasis), arousal levels, or sleep hygiene (behaviours and environmental factors promoting sleep) may be warranted.
To facilitate the development of sleep management practice in occupational therapy, there is a need to further conceptualise how sleep and occupation are linked and identify evidence-based occupational-based interventions that could be used in clinical practice. For example, occupation-based sleep interventions can aim to minimise the influence of bodily function on sleep, promote an environment conducive to sleep, and restructure daytime activity with a focus on occupational balance.
There is a growing need for occupational therapists to address the needs of people with insomnia, and it is questionable whether current education for entry-level occupational therapists is sufficient to appropriately address sleep issues. A survey of entry-level occupational therapy sleep education curricula may be the next step to better understand the scope of sleep education in occupational therapy programs.
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Sleep education for occupational therapists
Sleep is a restorative occupation, and sleep insufficiency has a direct impact on all other occupations. Sleep's main purpose is to help us recover and recuperate from daytime occupations and build up energy to engage in tasks that are meaningful to us. It directly impacts occupational performance and participation, and therefore it is very necessary that occupational therapists are involved in sleep.
Occupational therapists could address the needs of people with insomnia by developing sleep management programs using environmental intervention, assistive devices/equipment, the use of activity, CBTi, and lifestyle interventions. Understanding factors contributing to successful sleep and factors disrupting sleep will aid in setting specific goals and implementing appropriate interventions to optimize sleep quality and quantity. For example, depending on the client’s sleep issues, goals targeting factors that influence sleep physiology (circadian rhythm or sleep homeostasis), arousal levels, or sleep hygiene (behaviours and environmental factors promoting sleep) may be warranted.
To facilitate the development of sleep management practice in occupational therapy, there is a need to further conceptualize how sleep and occupation are linked and identify evidence-based occupational-based interventions that could be used in clinical practice. Only a few conceptual models or frameworks, like the PEOP model or the concept of occupational balance, have attempted to discuss how sleep is related to occupation, and how it could fit into occupational therapy practice.
A survey of entry-level occupational therapy sleep education curricula may be the next step to better understand the scope of sleep education in occupational therapy programs. Of the participants, 92% indicated that occupational therapists should be better prepared to evaluate and treat issues related to the occupation of sleep after graduating from an entry-level occupational therapy program. This finding indicates that practicing occupational therapists would like to have more knowledge on sleep and how to support the occupation of sleep in their occupational therapy practice.
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Frequently asked questions
Sleep is considered a restorative occupation, and sleep insufficiency has a direct impact on all other occupations. Sleep directly impacts occupational performance and participation, so occupational therapists need to understand sleep to help their patients.
Occupational therapists can help patients with sleep issues by developing sleep management programs using environmental intervention, assistive devices/equipment, the use of activity, CBTi, and lifestyle interventions. They can also help patients set specific goals and implement appropriate interventions to optimise sleep quality and quantity.
Examples of sleep goals that occupational therapists can help patients with include changing routines for sleep, creating and following a bedtime routine, and implementing relaxation techniques during the day or before bed.
Factors that contribute to successful sleep include sleep physiology (circadian rhythm or sleep homeostasis), arousal levels, and sleep hygiene (behaviors and environmental factors promoting sleep).











































