Sovdagböcker

Sovdagböcker are personal logs kept to record an individual's sleep patterns over time. They are used to monitor sleep quality, identify recurring patterns, and support the assessment of sleep-related problems or the effects of treatments. The practice is common in clinical settings, sleep research, and for personal health management.

A sovdagbok typically includes daily entries detailing bedtime and wake time, sleep onset latency (how long it takes to fall asleep), number and duration of awakenings during the night, total sleep time, and an overall assessment of sleep quality. Many diaries also note factors known to influence sleep, such as caffeine or alcohol intake, nicotine use, medications, exercise, light exposure, stress, and travel. Some entries may include naps, mood, or subjective daytime sleepiness. While dreams can be recorded, dreaming is often tracked in separate dream diaries rather than in a standard sovdagbok.

Formats vary from simple paper logs to digital apps and online forms. Standardized sleep diaries and consensus-based versions exist to facilitate comparison across individuals and studies. In clinical practice, sovdagböcker may complement objective measures like actigraphy or polysomnography, helping to interpret results and tailor interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I).

Limitations include reliance on self-report and potential gaps in daily recording, which can affect accuracy. Despite this, sovdagböcker provide valuable longitudinal insights into sleep behavior, circadian alignment, and the impact of lifestyle or treatment changes.