Ten Percent Happier
May 4, 2022

#445. The Science of Sleep | Dr. Sara Mednick

If you’re trying to improve your sleep, thinking about doing so right before you get into bed might not be the best approach. 

Dr. Sara Mednick, is a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of the new book The Power of the Downstate. This episode is part of our month-long “Mental Health Reboot” series to mark Mental Health Awareness Month. 

According to her research, Dr. Mednick says that we need to take a more holistic approach to getting better sleep, and that sleep is just one of the ways that our bodies rest and restore.  

In this conversation, we talk about:

  • The nuances of napping
  • Dr. Mednick’s definition of the “downstate”
  • Whether there are practices that can compensate for poor sleep
  • Why heart rate variability is an important measurement of health
  • Why sex is so helpful for sleep
  • And when to take melatonin to best effect

Where to find Dr. Sara Mednick online: 

Website: www.saramednick.com

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