Those who suffer the horrible malice of Restless Legs Syndrome know very well the full breadth of good sleep hygiene, it’s just that none of it really works when it comes to battling RLS. We are told endlessly the virtues of getting a solid 8 hours of sleep a night. It’s just not possible when the monster lurks.

In my case, I would do all of these and more:

limit caffeine after midday
avoid heavy meals before bed
avoid screens 1 hour before sleep
read a book
take a warm bath
do gentle stretching
keep bedroom cool
use blackout curtains
use white noise
use a comfy mattress and pillows
no alcohol
no smoking
avoid checking the clock at night
aromatherapy
avoid late-night news
use compression bandages
rub magnesium oil on the legs

But when it came time to descend into a dreamy bliss, there it was, the monster, the first hint of RLS sparking the legs. You ignore it, hoping it will pass, but it rarely does. And before you know it, you’re rubbing your legs,  moving around trying to find a more comfortable spot, stretching, more rubbing, push-ups, situps, walks around the room, more rubbing, until finally any hope of sleep goes out the window.