How To Finally Fix Your Sleep, Wake Up Rested & Transform Your Life with Dr Michael Breus #672
Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan ChatterjeeShow Notes
“Sleep is a lot like love: the less you look for it, the more it shows up.” So says my guest on this episode, one of the world's leading sleep doctors, who’s here to reveal the five common traps that are stopping us getting the rest we need.
Dr Michael Breus is a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist based in California. He’s the author of several books, including the brilliantly helpful, Sleep, Drink, Breathe. Over the course of his 25-year career, he’s helped thousands of people transform their health by changing the way they sleep. You’ll love his bold, no-nonsense manner and warm, practical advice.
In this conversation, we unpack the sleep myths that are keeping us stuck. We talk about why chasing eight hours could be working against you, why sleeping in at the weekend may be doing more harm than good, and why freaking out about your sleep is making it worse. We also explore what is really happening in your body to cause that 3am wake-up, and the practical techniques that can help you get back to sleep quickly and calmly.
Michael shares his own diagnosis of sleep apnoea, which will surprise you given his background, and opens up a conversation I think many of you will find both reassuring and galvanising. He dispels common myths around testing and treatment, and makes a clear case for investigating your symptoms – it could change your life.
We also cover sleep tracking and how to interpret what your wearables say without driving yourself to distraction. Michael gives his view on the supplements worth considering and those that are not. We talk about the specific challenges facing women going through perimenopause and menopause, and he gives practical advice for shift workers, parents, and carers who feel they can’t get the hours they need.
We close by talking through his five-step plan, which is simple, evidence-based, and immediately actionable. It will help you sleep better from tonight. Wherever you are in your journey towards restful, restorative sleep, you will hear something new in this insightful and surprising conversation. By going back to basics, Michael offers some truly fresh perspectives on this most fundamental pillar of your health.
The Thrive Tour: Transform Your Health and Happiness, a live show: Book Your Tickets https://drchatterjee.com/live
Thanks to our sponsors:
https://hellolingo.com/livemore
https://thewayapp.com/livemore
Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/672
DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
You probably already know that your diet can hugely influence how well you feel, but how much power do your food choices really have over your health?
What happens when the boundary between you and the world around you dissolves? It’s something I experienced myself recently, and this week I sat down with Zen Master Henry Shukman to try and make sense of it. What results is a conversation that moves from the practicalities of a sitting practice, to the outer edges of what meditation can reveal about who we really are.
Today’s guest brings warmth and wisdom to every conversation we have.
Twenty years ago, leading psychotherapist Esther Perel asked whether desire could survive marriage and children. Today, she highlights a new relationship threat: our frictionless, convenient lives – and offers a wealth of wisdom to keep love alive.
Most of us walk every day without really thinking about it – but this episode is guaranteed to change that. Because this simple, free, radical act is one of the most powerful things you can do for your body, your brain and your longevity.