The Science of Sleep

When was the last time you got a solid 8 hours of sleep? 

So really, how important is a good night's sleep?  

The latest scientific research shows that many health issues correlate with poor sleep, such as diabetes, heart disease, premature ageing, memory loss, weight gain, cancer and more.

In the past when we were younger, we would often show off and laugh with friends about how little sleep we got. 

Now it has become a key pillar of a healthy lifestyle. Improving your sleep can literally change your life.

What is the history of sleep? 

For much of human history, we have lived by the cycles of day and night or not perpetually spinning planet. We evolved to follow a diurnal pattern – we are awake in the day and sleep at night. But all that has changed with our 24/7 societies and fast paced world.

First with gas lights, then later with the advent of electricity and the invention of the lightbulb, illumination soon flooded into every dark corner, extending working hours and hours for leisure. Thomas Edison may have had good intentions when he said “ everything which decreases the total sum of man’s sleep, increases the sum of man’s capability”..

How does this differ to how we think of sleep now? 

What we know now is that a lack of sleep is perilous, chronic sleep deprivation has massive implications for health – from obesity and dementia to heart disease and cancer.

When streets became lit, and our homes became fully illuminated after dark, we started to disengage the connection between day and night and a master clock that has long controlled arch to sleep and be awake. Imagine living in a busy city where light pollution can be seen from space. 

We are all guilty of ignoring the signs of sleepiness because we just want to finish the project at work, enjoy nights out with friends or binge watch the latest series on Netflix.

By running on little sleep, we can become quivering emotional wrecks and struggle to process thoughts or problems efficiently. Small and significant changes can start to to read the rest of the balance. The natural world has plenty to teach us!

Reconnecting with the sun and working in harmony with it’s cycle empowers us to sleep better, be energised and feel happier.

The setting of the sun is the perfect reminder that it is time to settle down, time to put away the laptop, relax our minds and give ourselves the best opportunity to sleep.

So let’s start a new sleep revolution – let’s reclaimed the night for sleep!

Would you like to find out more about the Lantern Clinic? You can book a FREE discovery call with Dr Margarita below.