25 or 6 to 4: Stop Doing This And Sleep Better Tonight ⏰
Let's synchronize rhythms and split up
3 min read
Note: today’s issue is totally free to all subscribers, my gift to you because the sleep info is that important to me. You’re welcome! But please consider upgrading to a paid subscription for extra goodies and to support my work. Let’s be friends with benefits! 🎁 💝
MYOPTICAL ALLUSION
Summer vacation approaches! A blessing and a curse for parents; kids are happy because they have no school, and bored because they have no structure (fact: boredom is actually good for creativity, but that’s another topic altogether). While we don’t really need another reason to encourage kids to spend more time outside and less time on screens, how about fewer trips to the eye doctor as a negotiating point? Myopia, aka nearsightedness, has been on the rise among children over the past decade (likely culprit: screen time. sigh), but recent studies among school-aged kids have shown improvement and slower progression of myopia in children who spent at least two hours outdoors every day. Get this: even if they were on screens outdoors! Simply put, outdoor time is the best form of prevention for nearsightedness. And that’s one to grow on.
COME TOGETHER
Exciting news for fellow sleep geeks and our sleep-curious peers! Equinox Hotels is hosting its inaugural Global Sleep Symposium, next week in NYC at their flagship in Hudson Yards. Expect discussions with leading sleep experts like Dr Matt Walker, immersive activities, regenerative spa treatments and the best sleep of your life if you book a ticket that includes the overnight stay. Ahem, and the MC for the 2-day event will be none other than yours truly. 🤗 🎤
Come sleep with us! Use the code EQSLEEP10 for 10% off your ticket.
SEPARATE WAYS
While we’re in bed, let’s talk about how we really need some space. You may be familiar with the term “sleep divorce,” which gained recent traction with celebrities and researchers touting the health benefits of sleeping in separate beds, or even separate bedrooms when you have Cameron Diaz money. At first glance, it goes against everything we believe in about marriage and togetherness, but really- it just. makes. sense. People have unique sleep-wake cycles, disruptive sleep behaviors, and different temperature needs, and everyone has a right to the best sleep possible. It will only make you kinder to your partner in the morning.
Given that we don’t all have the luxury of entirely separate space, as part of their brilliant sleep system, Equinox Hotels has designed the ideal split-duvet that works on one bed with two people in it. Genius! (Currently accepting gifts and donations 🙋🏻♀️) It’s time to normalize this practice. The problem is that the D-word has such a negative connotation, so I prefer to think of this as Conscious Uncovering. 🤓
HERE’S A TIP, MAKE THE CHANGE
Yes more sleep tips, cuz that’s how F-ing important it is! Just a few consecutive nights of poor sleep can wreak havoc on your long-term health. One pesky culprit that keeps us from deep rest is light. We want it in our kids’ eyeballs during the day, but we need it at a zero at night, and any room with a smartphone, a digital clock, an Alexa, a modem, etc is far from total darkness. Removing clocks from the room is not only the best way to dim the glow of blue light for ultimate darkness, but if you frequently wake in the night, it’s best to not look at the time, it only adds to the anxiety about not sleeping. Best practice: reset your circadian rhythm for an alarm-free wakeup. If that’s not an option, put your alarm/phone in the next room or set your phone or fitness tracker to vibrate under your pillow for a light- and clock-free rest.
et CETERA
I was yesterday years old when I realized that it’s not just an epic horn section, but Chicago penned the ultimate insomnia anthem.
Rest deeply and enjoy the weekend.
