“Narcolepsy is a daily battle fought over a lifetime.”– Scott

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Tips for Daily Living With Narcolepsy

Finding what works for you can help you live better with narcolepsy.

Living with narcolepsy can be challenging, but there are things you can do that may help lessen the impact of your symptoms.

Healthy Habits for Living With Narcolepsy

Alarm clock icon
Maintain a regular sleep-wake schedule
Exercise icon
Exercise regularly
Daytime nap icon
Schedule daytime naps
Avoid caffeine icon
Avoid caffeine in the evening
Avoid alcohol icon
Avoid alcohol
Avoid smoking icon
Avoid smoking
Healthy foods icon
Eat a healthy dinner several hours before bedtime and avoid late-night snacks

Tips for School and Work

Whether you’re a college student or a career professional, certain changes can help you make the most of your day while managing your symptoms. Everyone is different, so it’s important to find what works best for you.

Tips for college students

  • Checkmark iconWhen possible, schedule your courses intentionally
    • Build in breaks to allow for naps
    • Schedule important classes for when you are usually most awake and alert
  • Checkmark iconIf possible, ask for extra time on exams or flexible deadlines for assignments
  • Checkmark iconHave a plan for catching up on information you may miss from class (for example, asking to record lectures or share notes with a classmate or instructor)
  • Checkmark iconIncrease your physical activity to help you feel less sleepy (for example, standing or walking in class or while studying)
  • Checkmark iconStay engaged by participating in study groups or discussion-based classes
  • Checkmark iconFor on-campus living, consider requesting a single room so you can stick to a consistent sleep schedule
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Tips for work

  • Checkmark iconRequest consistent shifts to allow for a regular sleep schedule
  • Checkmark iconAsk about a flexible arrival time or work from home days
  • Checkmark iconTake breaks throughout the day, including breaks for short naps
  • Checkmark iconBe strategic with your workload
    • Break up repetitive, monotonous tasks
    • Schedule your most demanding work for when you are usually most awake and alert
  • Checkmark iconKeep the temperature cool
  • Checkmark iconStand or walk during meetings or other activities that make you feel sleepy
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People Living With Narcolepsy Share Their Experiences

See what others living with narcolepsy say has helped them in managing their day to day.

  • Checkmark iconYou have to find what works for you. Be intentional in your approach. – Andre
  • Checkmark iconKeep a consistent sleep schedule. – Sean
  • Checkmark iconPractice mindfulness or yoga to reduce stress. – Leah
  • Checkmark iconTry to find a job that provides you a vested interest. – Andre
  • Checkmark iconSchedule naps during the day. – Matt
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Tips for Daily Living With Narcolepsy

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Personal Stories of Living With Narcolepsy

Tips for Daily Living With Narcolepsy

Katie, Sharon, Ijeoma, & Leah
Living with narcolepsy

Hear tips for daily living with narcolepsy from people who have narcolepsy. From building a daily routine to practicing mindfulness, people living with narcolepsy share how they have learned to manage their day to day.

Personal Stories of Living With Narcolepsy

Ijeoma, Sharon, Leah, & Katie
Living with narcolepsy

People with narcolepsy share their personal stories, perspectives, and insights on living with narcolepsy. They share their thoughts on living a full and productive life with narcolepsy.

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Watch Video

Tips for Daily Living With Narcolepsy

Katie, Sharon, Ijeoma, & Leah
Living with narcolepsy

Hear tips for daily living with narcolepsy from people who have narcolepsy. From building a daily routine to practicing mindfulness, people living with narcolepsy share how they have learned to manage their day to day.

More
Personal stories of living with narcolepsy video thumbnail
Watch Video

Personal Stories of Living With Narcolepsy

Ijeoma, Sharon, Leah, & Katie
Living with narcolepsy

People with narcolepsy share their personal stories, perspectives, and insights on living with narcolepsy. They share their thoughts on living a full and productive life with narcolepsy.

More

Healthy Habits for Living With Narcolepsy

Download this handout for tips to keep handy.

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Healthy Habits for Living With Narcolepsy

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Vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or while waking up.

Occurs at night and includes dreams; muscles are not active to prevent people from acting out dreams.

People with type 1 narcolepsy can be diagnosed by their cataplexy or low levels of hypocretin (also known as orexin).

The cause of type 2 narcolepsy is unknown.

Restorative sleep state with decreased muscle tone.

Daytime and evening habits to improve sleep.

Brief total loss of voluntary muscle control when falling asleep or while waking up.

Also known as orexin, hypocretin is a naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps maintain wakefulness and prevent non-REM sleep and REM sleep from occurring at the wrong time.

Unintentionally falling asleep due to excessive daytime sleepiness; “sleep attacks.”

The inability to stay awake and alert during the day; a constant need for sleep or unintentionally falling asleep.

A naturally occurring chemical in the brain that helps maintain wakefulness.

Vivid dream-like experiences that occur while falling asleep or while waking up.

Frequent shifts between different states of sleep and wakefulness at night.

Difficulty focusing or concentrating.

Brief loss of muscle tone with retained awareness, often triggered by strong emotions.

Performance of routine tasks without awareness or memory.