Jet lag is essentially a circadian rhythm sleep disorder. Normally, your body clock is tuned to the 24-hour day–night cycle: daylight keeps you awake, and darkness tells your brain it’s time for sleep. But when you zoom across several time zones in a matter of hours, your internal clock can’t instantly catch up. For example, if you fly from New York to London and arrive at 11 PM local time, your body might still feel like its 6 PM back in New York, making it hard to fall asleep. Your body then goes through a “recouping” phase – sometimes linked to the growing pains of adjusting to a new schedule. The adjustment takes time. In practice, your circadian clock shifts by roughly 1–1.5 hours per day as you reset to the new zone. This means if you cross, say, 6 time zones, it could take around 4–6 days to adapt...

You know that moment, when your brain checks out, your eyelids get heavy, and everything just feels… slower? It usually hits right after lunch, and no, it’s not just you. Turns out, your body’s wired for a midday dip in energy. And the fix isn’t always another cup of coffee. Sometimes, what you really need is a quick nap. That’s why companies like Google and Ben & Jerry’s have built nap rooms into their offices. They know what NASA discovered: a short nap can boost alertness by 54% and improve performance by 34%. Why Power Naps Work The magic of power naps lie in their timing. When you rest for a short period, usually between 10 and 20 minutes, your brain stays in the lighter stages of sleep. Your body relaxes, your mind clears, and stress levels drop. This short burst of rest helps improve focus, lift your mood, and...

Sleep deprivation means regularly getting less rest than your body needs. It can be caused by stress, hectic schedules, medical problems, or simply sleeping on an old, uncomfortable bed. Poor sleep patterns over time can confuse your nervous system and reduce the amount of sleep your body gets, even if you spend hours in bed. Over time, being sleep-deprived takes a heavy toll on your body and mind.  In the US, about one in three adults gets less than seven hours of sleep a night, and around 50 to 70 million people struggle with sleep disorders, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Sleep deprivation can be either short-term (lasting a few days) or chronic (lasting weeks or longer). Common Signs of Sleep Deprivation If you are not getting enough rest, you might experience one or more of the following signs:  Excessive fatigue during the day, feeling sleepy,...

Not everyone is wired to wake up early, fall asleep quickly, or feel energized at 9 a.m. sharp. And that’s perfectly okay. Thanks to the work of clinical psychologist and sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus, we now understand that people fall into four distinct sleep chronotypes; Bear, Wolf, Lion, and Dolphin. These categories explain your natural sleep-wake cycle, energy highs and lows, and even your ideal mattress type. So if you've ever wondered why you're ready to start the day while your partner is hitting snooze for the third time, or why your productivity peaks just before midnight, your sleep chronotype might hold the answer. Let’s dive into each chronotype, what it means for your lifestyle, and how to choose the perfect mattress for your unique rhythm. What Are Sleep Chronotypes? Sleep chronotypes are biological labels for how your circadian rhythm—your body’s internal clock—operates. This rhythm governs when you naturally...

You need enough sleep. In fact, your survival literally depends on your ability to rest. Numerous studies have shown strong connection between good sleep and good health. If you get a better quality, longer duration, and greater consistency of sleep, you’ll most likely have a better mood, problem-solving ability, brain performance and so on. And the opposite is also true—poor sleep can undermine your physical health, mental clarity, and emotional resilience, making it clear that prioritizing rest isn’t just a luxury; it’s a necessity for thriving in every aspect of life. Cortisol – a stress hormone the adrenal glands produce – is a key player in this process. When your cortisol levels are well-regulated through quality sleep, you feel calmer, more energetic, and better equipped to handle life’s daily demands. When they’re out of balance, however, you may experience chronic stress, mood swings, and even health risks like high blood...

Have you ever noticed how waking up after a restless night leaves you dragging through the day? It turns out there's more to it than just feeling tired. Recent studies highlight that quality sleep is crucial in lifting our mood and boosting our energy levels. For instance, researchers found that people who consistently get a good night’s rest report higher positive emotions, less daytime sleepiness, and lower stress and anxiety. It’s fascinating to see how something as simple as improving your sleep environment, starting with the right mattress, can significantly affect how you feel each day. Let’s look at the science behind sleep and discover how making the right choices tonight can transform your tomorrow. How Sleep Affects Your Brain When you sleep, your brain processes memories and emotions from the day. This helps you stay balanced and positive. Better sleep leads to positive emotions and a better mood throughout...

You’ve probably wished someone a good night and sweet dreams more times than you can count. But what exactly are sweet dreams? Are they just pleasant thoughts, or do they have a deeper meaning? Let’s explore the science behind sweet dreams and how they can influence your emotions, creativity, and even your waking life. Understanding Dreams Dreams are the imaginative experiences that our minds generate while we sleep. They’re thought to help the brain process information from the day. Dreams are most vivid during the REM stage of sleep, when your brain activity is almost as high as when you’re awake. While dreaming can also happen during other sleep stages, these dreams are less vivid and harder to remember. On average, you experience 4 to 6 dreams each night, although most slip away from memory quickly. Some people may have as many as 7 dreams in one night, with each...

It’s so easy to stay up late these days. Between binge-watching the latest TV shows, scrolling endlessly through social media, or just finishing up work, it feels like we’re always on the go. But have you ever stopped for a second to think about how these habits affect your rest?  A growing body of evidence suggests that modern life is taking a toll on our functioning, thanks to its damaging effects on sleep quantity, quality, and timing. This guide will explore how this happens and what we can do to reclaim a restful night. But first, let’s look at why sleep is important.   Why We Need Adequate Sleep Sleep is as important for good health as exercise and diet. We can only function well if we get enough sleep. Numerous studies have associated short sleep – defined as sleeping less than 7 hours per night – with a greater...