People who compensated for sleep deprivation with catch-up sleep did not have an increased risk of mortality. People who consistently slept too little without ever making it up did

<p>Sleep improvement is rarely a dramatic overnight transformation. More often, it begins with quieter changes: less dread at bedtime, fewer anxious thoughts at

Chronic insomniacs are treated harshly in the media. We’re told that six hours of sleep damages the brain, weakens the immune system, and causes the heart to fail. That the risk of depression increases. And yet, some people still make it to 95 just fine

People with insomnia have a specific tension profile, in which sleep-related and anxiety-related forms weigh most heavily. This explains why insomnia can be so persistent

A forty percent higher risk of dementia. Brains that function as if they are four years older. These are the figures from a study involving more than 2,700 adults with chronic insomnia

If you think you sleep poorly because your father or mother did too, and that it’s simply “in your DNA,” some nuance is needed. Predisposition explains why you may be more vulnerable. It doesn’t necessarily explain why you’re sleeping poorly now or why it just isn’t improving.

The metaphor of the accelerator pedal and brake pedal is powerful because it provides insight. It shows that insomnia is not a lack of ability to sleep, but a disruption of balance. It’s something that arises when your system receives the right signals and nothing is standing in the way anymore

Light is a powerful signal for the body. It influences our biological clock, sleep, mood, and cognitive performance. But it’s not just about how bright the light is. It also matters when and what type of light we’re exposed to.

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics, young people between the ages of thirteen and eighteen need eight to ten hours of sleep per night for optimal health and development. Yet the majority do not meet this standard

We tend to think that fatigue is about the number of hours we sleep. Eight hours is good. Seven is borderline. Six is a problem. But what many people don’t realize is that you can sleep a perfect eight hours and still feel exhausted. Not because you lack sleep, but because you lack regularity.

It’s the paradox of the insomniac: the harder you try to sleep, the more difficult it seems. But why does this happen? Why can’t we sleep, precisely when we want it so badly?

Doctors prescribe sleeping pills to one in two people who suffer from insomnia. Sleeping pills do have an effect. They calm you down. They make you drowsy. Sometimes you suddenly sleep through a few hours again. That can feel like a relief. You might sleep better, but the confidence that you can do this on your own gradually fades into the background.

Lying awake is rarely a matter of not being tired; it’s often a matter of not being able to stop thinking. Rumination — endlessly chewing over thoughts — keeps your system alert when you want to switch off. One technique that tries to break this pattern is the cognitive shuffle, developed by cognitive scientist Luc Beaudoin

You can reduce the effects of jet lag with a few smart hacks.

For people with insomnia, ASMR can be a useful addition to a bedtime routine. It signals to the body that it’s time to sleep and helps release racing thoughts. Research shows that those sensitive to ASMR have a more active brain region associated with relaxation

In my sleep coaching programs, I don’t treat questionnaires as just a 'test'. I use them as a starting point for meaningful change

We’ve grown accustomed to the idea that a healthy night’s sleep means one solid block of 7 to 9 hours. But science shows what historical research has long suggested: humans may not naturally be “one-stretch sleepers.”

I will elaborate a bit more on popular sleep supplements. This is based on an article in The Washington Post, which evaluated recent scientific research on the possible positive effects of five supplements often used to improve sleep: melatonin, magnesium, probiotics, vitamin D, and ashwagandha.

Do you remember pulling an all-nighter in the past? Did you have a bad day the next day?

I sometimes see people turn to cannabis to help them sleep better. Some are enthusiastic about it—they sleep more deeply, feel calmer, and function better during the day. Others notice little difference or even feel worse. Why does it work for some but not for others?