#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

Social Media:

• Twitter: @Sara_Mednick
• Instagram:@sarailoveyoumore

Book Mentioned:

• The Power of the Downstate: Recharge Your Life Using Your Body's Own Restorative Systems

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Robert Stickgold, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
• James Nestor, author of Breath
• Take a Nap! Change Your Life: The Scientific Plan to Make You Smarter, Healthier, More Productive

Additional Resources:

• Download the Ten Percent Happier app today: https://10percenthappier.app.link/install