Knowledge Hub

Resources

Research, books, toolkits, and guides — everything you need to understand the sleep crisis and become an effective advocate.

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Essential Reading

These books and articles are the foundation of sleep science literacy. If you read nothing else, read these.

📖 Book

Why We Sleep

Matthew Walker (2017)

The single most important book on sleep science written for a general audience. Covers the biology of sleep, the consequences of deprivation, and the societal systems that undermine rest. Essential for anyone beginning this journey.

📖 Book

The Sleep Revolution

Arianna Huffington (2016)

A compelling cultural and personal argument for reclaiming sleep. Excellent for changing minds in corporate and high-performance contexts where the "busy = productive" myth is most entrenched.

📖 Book

Sleep: A Very Short Introduction

Steven W. Lockley & Russell G. Foster

A concise, rigorous introduction to sleep science. Perfect for those who want the evidence base without the anecdote. Particularly useful for policymakers and healthcare professionals.

📰 Report

Philips Global Sleep Survey (2021)

Includes India-specific data

Annual survey of sleep quality across 13 countries including India. Provides the most comprehensive picture of Indian sleep habits, drivers of poor sleep, and public awareness of sleep health.

📰 Report

RAND Corporation: Why Sleep Matters

Economic cost analysis (2016)

The landmark economic analysis of sleep deprivation's cost — $411 billion annually in the US alone. Essential for making the business and policy case to sceptical audiences who respond to numbers.

📰 Research

CDC: Sleep and Chronic Disease

US Centers for Disease Control

Comprehensive review of the links between insufficient sleep and diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health. Freely available and widely cited.

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Advocacy Toolkits

Free resources to support your advocacy — for schools, workplaces, and communities.

🏫

School Advocacy Toolkit

Everything you need to make the case for later school start times to your school board or PTA. Includes research summary, presentation template, letter to principal, and FAQ.

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🏢

Employer Sleep Programme

A complete guide to building a sleep-friendly workplace — policy templates, training session outlines, and the Right2Sleep Employer Pledge documentation.

Request Toolkit
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Policymaker Brief

A 4-page evidence summary for elected officials and civil servants: the scale of the problem, key policy interventions, international precedents, and our specific asks.

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🎓

Student Lesson Plan

Curriculum-aligned lesson plan (Classes 8–12) on sleep biology, consequences of deprivation, and personal sleep hygiene. Available in English and Hindi.

Request Plan
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Parent Guide

A parent's guide to protecting teen sleep — understanding circadian biology, creating screen-free bedrooms, and engaging schools on start times.

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📋

Sleep Self-Assessment

A 10-question validated sleep assessment tool, based on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, to help individuals understand their own sleep quality and when to seek help.

Get Assessment
For Researchers

Key Research Sources

The scientific evidence base behind Right2Sleep's advocacy work.

Academic & Medical Sources

  • Journal of Sleep Research

    European Sleep Research Society's flagship journal — peer-reviewed research on all aspects of sleep science.

  • SLEEP (Oxford Academic)

    Official journal of the Sleep Research Society and AASM. Covers clinical sleep medicine and basic sleep science.

  • National Sleep Foundation (USA)

    sleepfoundation.org — accessible, well-sourced consumer and policy-facing information on sleep.

  • World Sleep Society

    worldsleepsociety.org — global professional society for sleep medicine with India chapters.

India-Specific Resources

  • Indian Sleep Disorders Association (ISDA)

    India's primary professional body for sleep medicine practitioners and researchers.

  • AIIMS Sleep Lab, New Delhi

    AIIMS's sleep medicine centre — key source for Indian clinical sleep research and referrals.

  • Philips India Sleep Survey (Annual)

    The most comprehensive annual survey of Indian sleep habits, with over 1,500 Indian respondents.

  • ICMR Health Data

    Indian Council of Medical Research's periodic health surveys include sleep-adjacent data on fatigue, NCD risk factors, and shift work prevalence.

Quick Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the Sleep Research Society, and the National Sleep Foundation all recommend 7–9 hours per night for adults aged 18–64. Adults over 65 need 7–8 hours. Teenagers (13–18) need 8–10 hours.
Key signs include: needing an alarm to wake up (your body hasn't had enough sleep), feeling drowsy within 10 minutes of lying down, needing caffeine to function normally, sleeping significantly more on weekends, and difficulty concentrating or making decisions. Our Sleep Self-Assessment toolkit (above) provides a validated tool.
Sleep hygiene refers to behaviours and environment practices that promote consistent, quality sleep: consistent sleep/wake times, dark and cool bedroom, no screens 45 minutes before bed, limited caffeine after early afternoon, and a wind-down routine. Evidence strongly supports these practices — but they work best when the environment supports them. Right2Sleep advocates for environments that make sleep hygiene possible, not just personal habits.
Sleeping medications can address acute insomnia but do not produce the same restorative sleep as natural sleep. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is now the gold-standard first-line treatment for chronic insomnia — more effective than medication and without dependency risks. Speak to a qualified sleep physician if you are struggling with chronic sleep issues.
Shift work — especially night shifts — forces people to sleep at times misaligned with their circadian clock, producing lower quality, shorter sleep even when given equal time in bed. Shift work disorder is associated with significantly higher rates of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mental health problems. Right2Sleep advocates for shift worker protections and scheduling standards that minimise circadian disruption.

Can't Find What You Need?

Our team can direct you to specific research, connect you with sleep medicine professionals, or develop custom materials for your organisation.