When you’re under pressure your body enters a state of alertness. The stress hormone cortisol keeps you vigilant. That’s useful in urgent situations, but the brain doesn’t distinguish between a caregiving task tomorrow morning and a lion around the corner. Under stress, the body remains in a heightened state of readiness, which prevents proper recovery during sleep. As a result, you either don’t get enough sleep or the quality of your sleep declines.

On TikTok and Instagram, it’s showing up more and more: people showering in the dark shortly before bedtime. Just warm, running water and darkness. They claim that dark showering helps them fall asleep faster. Is that true?

A large observational study in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, conducted among over 53,000 adults, shows that three small daily adjustments together can already make a noticeable difference for your heart

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

Yoga combines movement, breathing, focus, and relaxation. This appears to reduce stress and positively influence your nervous system. Interestingly, it's not about the gentle, slow yoga, but rather more intensive forms like power yoga or vinyasa flow

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.”

A sleep routine helps signal to your brain and body that it’s time to wind down. By repeating the same calming habits each day, you reduce stress, fall asleep more easily, and improve the quality of your sleep.

A scientific consensus study by the National Sleep Foundation from 2015, based on over 300 previous studies, concluded that there is no optimal number of sleep hours. Age, genetics, health, lifestyle, and many other factors together determine how much sleep you need

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?

Negative sleep beliefs contribute to more stress and tension in bed, worrying about sleep and poorer sleep quality