Summary: Matthew Walker's Why We Sleep

the afternoon, caffeine should also be avoided. Caffeine has a half-life of 5-6 hours. This means that it takes that much hours for the body to process a half of the amount you took in.

Sleep is one of the most vital yet the least understood aspects of our wellness, longevity and our lives.

taking a hot shower or bath before bedtime. When you take a hot bath, your blood rises closer to the surface of your skin. Once you’re out of the hot bath, this makes it easier for the body to release heat. Thus, it actually lowers your body temperature.

sleep in a room with cold temperature.

turn off devices at night. Screens should be avoided when you’re near bedtime. The blue light from the screens inhibits the melatonin production of your body.

Why is sleep the least researched biological drive?

teenagers’ body clocks are naturally shifting to be later than adults’ body clocks.

slows the effects of aging

According to Walker, sleep regulates hormones and prevents diseases like diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s.

Dreaming, on the other hand, mollifies painful memories. What dreaming does further is creating a virtual reality space in which the human brain melds your past and present knowledge to further inspire creativity.