A study by researchers from the University of Salzburg compares eight popular sleep trackers with polysomnography, the medical gold standard for sleep research. The findings are surprising.

The next time your “smart” watch tells you that you only got 45 minutes of deep sleep or your sleep score has dropped below 70, take a moment to breathe calmly

The analysis of a massive sleep dataset mainly shows that sleep is not a mysterious process over which you have little control. On the contrary, small and consistent behavioral changes can already make a big difference.

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.

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.

What makes caffeine sneaky is that it’s in more products than you think. Many people only think of coffee, but tea, cola, energy drinks, chocolate, and even some workout supplements and painkillers also contain caffeine. Together, they can add up to a stack bigger than you expect—and that your body still has to handle at night

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?

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

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.”

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.

Which forms of physical activity are the most sleep-inducing? Research by an international team, drawn from several Asian universities, provides the answer.

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

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