Sleep For Your Life – STP022 - Sharp - The Podcast

Episode 22 - We're having a look at sleep this time. We learn why sleep is important, how a lack of it can literally kill you, what happens when we do get sleep and how to achieve it. There's also a liberal sprinkling of nonsense from 'Steve out in the field' which he thought was a good idea:

Some of the stuff in there is:



• What can happen if you don't get enough sleep
• There's a really interesting animation - by the Ted team here
• Why only a few people can survive on low levels of sleep
• The risks you expose yourself to even after only being awake for 18 hours
• National Geographic's experiment - This is your brain on no sleep
• How many people die in sleep related crashes each year - the numbers are astonishing
• Further reading from Forbes here 
• The health consequences of missing out on just an hour's sleep a night
• The Telegraph Article
• 5 definite benefits from getting enough sleep:

1. You’re better able to focus and learn
2. You feel happier
3. You’re more productive
4. You’re less hungry
5. You won’t get sick as often

• What happens when we sleep?
• The sleep cycles:

1. Non-REM sleep - Four stages
2. REM sleep

• You can read more detail on the cycles - in this BBC Science Article
• How sleep literally washes our brains!
• Article from the National Institute of Health in the US on sleep
• The solutions to getting more sleep in today's busy world:

1. Routine - Establish a wind-down routine to include turning your device off an hour before bedtime, an end of day journal, warmth bath, read a relaxing book. Here's a routine from the Huffington Post
2. Mindfulness, yoga or relaxation techniques - Any of these can calm your mind more generally.

• Here's a link to find out about the headspace app
• This one is about 10% Happier
• This podcast called 'Sleep with me' may help you to sleep also

1. Caffeine curfew - Did you know that caffeine has a half life of 6 hours? Here is some reading. Stopping caffeine at 1 or 2pm will definitely help
2. Invest in good quality sleeping stuff bed, mattress, pillows, pyjamas, cassettes you can put a small one into...
3. Exercise - This article explains why a regular exercise routine can help you sleep
4. Ditch the devices - The blue light can trick your body into thinking it should be awake, and the buzzers and beeps (or even the thought of them going off) can delay the onset of sleep.
5. Apps - There's loads out there to help you manage the supportive habits you want to develop. Here's the link back to our episode where we featured them.

• Further reading: Here are two more articles which formed our source and make for useful further reading:

1. The Daily Telegraph - 25 Tips To Help You Sleep Better
2. Sleep.Org - 7 Habits Keeping You Awake