"When you’re setting your alarm clock ahead the night of April 1, decide not to join the ranks of those who will lose an hour of sleep," said Richard L. Gelula, NSF’s chief executive officer. "This spring time change provides an excellent opportunity for people to give real thought about whether they’re getting adequate sleep overall. Sleep is as important as diet and exercise in helping people to function at their best and to maintain good health."

The return to Daylight Saving Time occurs at 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, April 2, 2006, coinciding with the final day of National Sleep Awareness Week®, NSF’s annual campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of sleep. During this campaign each year, NSF releases the results of its Sleep in America poll, providing a snapshot of Americans’ sleep habits.

This year’s Sleep in America poll focuses on America’s adolescents (ages 11-17), finding that many are falling asleep in school, arriving late to class, feeling unhappy and tense, and driving drowsy because of a lack of sleep that gets worse as they go through their teen years. While sleep experts recommend nine hours or more of sleep for teens, only 20% say they achieve this amount, and nearly one-half (45%) report that they get less than eight hours of sleep on school nights.

"Our newly released Sleep in America poll indicates that adolescents aren’t getting the sleep they need at a crucial time for development and growth in many respects," notes Gelula. "Sleepiness is associated with reduced short-term memory and learning ability, negative moods, inconsistent performance, slower reaction times and poor productivity. That’s why we’re asking parents, educators and teens themselves to take an active role in making sleep a priority."

NSF offers the following tips on how to get a good night’s sleep this weekend and year-round:

* In the three or four days before the start of Daylight Saving Time (April 2, 2006), gradually change your family’s sleep and wake schedule so that you go to bed 15-20 minutes earlier each day, in order to accommodate the time change by Sunday.

* If you are sleepy on April 2, a short nap can be helpful, but don’t nap within a few hours of your regular bedtime in order to avoid disrupting nighttime sleep.

* Create a sleep-friendly environment that is dark, cool, comfortable and quiet.

* Have a relaxing routine before bedtime, such as soaking in a hot bath, reading for fun or listening to soothing music.

* Set a consistent bedtime and wake-time (even on the weekends) that allows for adequate sleep.

* Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol for several hours prior to bedtime, as they can disrupt sleep.

For more information on how to get a good night’s sleep or the importance of sleep, visit NSF’s website at www.sleepfoundation.org.

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving greater understanding of sleep and sleep disorders. NSF furthers its mission through sleep-related education, research and advocacy initiatives. NSF’s membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep medicine as well as other professionals in the health/medical/science fields, individuals and more than 700 sleep clinics throughout North America that join the Foundation’s Community Sleep Awareness Partners program.

NSF’s financial support comes from a variety of diverse sources, including memberships, sales of educational materials, advertising, investment income, individual donations, subscriptions, and educational grants from foundations, federal agencies, and corporations including pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical companies. Corporate grants are accepted on an unrestricted basis only. NSF alone determines the ideas and content published or promoted in its educational programs. A list of 2006 contributors can be found on NSF’s website at www.sleepfoundation.org.