You sleep every night, but do you know about sleep? Follow the guide to become the sleep expert you need!
Perhaps you are just a little curious about this nightly thing you do. Maybe you feel well-rested but quite interested? Maybe you feel tired and it’s just oh so…tiring?
Having knowledge of your own sleep health can be beneficial on many levels. It can help you to identify patterns in your sleeping habits, identify what is and isn’t working for you, better understand why certain things affect your sleep, and become more knowledgeable about the best ways to ensure you get the restful nights of sleep that you need.
Start with the Most Basic Facts: What Happens When You Sleep
- Read What Happens When You Sleep? by WebMD to expand your understanding of how sleep impacts your body.
- Review the basics about sleep from the CDC
Get Curious & Explore Special Sleep Topics on SleepFoundation.org
There’s a lot of information out there, but SleepFoundation.org has sleep health information from experts you can trust. Start by taking a look at all the sleep topics they cover. From there, you can continue exploring through what piques your interest.
Know When to Seek Medical Advice
This guide isn’t a substitute for a medical assessment or medical advice. It is important to seek advice from a doctor for sleep health issues or concerns. A doctor has the expertise and experience to properly diagnose any underlying medical conditions that could be causing your sleep problems and they can recommend treatment options that are specific to your individual needs and situation. Plus you can always continue your journey to be your personal sleep expert AND see a doctor for help.
Take a free course on sleep through Coursera
The University of Michigan offers an excellent course through Coursera. Dive into a deeper knowledge by taking their class, Sleep: Neurobiology, Medicine, and Society. Enroll for Free!
Read Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker
Matthew Walker, Ph.D., is a highly respected expert in the field of sleep science and psychology. He is a professor at UC Berkeley and is highly regarded for his research on the importance of sleep. His book, Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, provides a comprehensive look into the power of sleep and how it impacts our lives.
Buy the kindle, paperback, or hard cover version on Amazon.
You can also gain a lot of excellent information by listening to The Matt Walker Podcast.
Use Your New Knowledge to Assess Your Sleep-Self
- Track your sleep patterns
- Identify the triggers that can disrupt your sleep
- Assess the quality of your sleep environment
- Understand how different activities affect sleep
- Explore ways to naturally boost melatonin levels to help with insomnia
- Develop a consistent pre-bedtime routine
- [Now that you’re the expert, you can add more bullet points to this list…]
Now You’re the Expert–I’ll Take Some Time Off
Becoming your own personal sleep expert is an empowering journey that can lead to better rest, improved health, and well-being. With the right knowledge and tools, you have the power to assess your own sleep self and take control of how well you are sleeping.