Stop Trying So Hard to Sleep & Why New Things Are So Hard to Resist

This episode of Something You Should Know delves into two fascinating aspects of human behavior: our relationship with sleep and our attraction to novelty. Mike Carruthers hosts sleep physiologist Stephanie Romaszewski and author Eric Athas to shed light on these topics.

The Counterproductive Pursuit of Perfect Sleep

Stephanie Romaszewski, a sleep physiologist and co-founder of Sleepyhead Clinics, challenges the modern obsession with tracking and optimizing sleep. She argues that the constant worry about sleep quality, duration, and ideal conditions is often counterproductive, leading to increased anxiety and making sleep even harder to achieve. Romaszewski's book, Think Less, Sleep More: From Panic and Perfectionism to Stress-Free Sleep, advocates for a more natural approach.

Mike Carruthers opens the discussion by outlining common anxieties about sleep: "Am I getting enough? Is it good quality sleep? Why did I wake up at 3 AM?" He notes the prevalence of sleep apps, trackers, and special routines, all aimed at achieving the "perfect" way to sleep. Romaszewski agrees that this is how most people think, but suggests that sleep generally knows how to take care of itself. The more we monitor, judge, and try to perfect it, the more anxious we become about something that is supposed to happen naturally. She emphasizes that anxiety about sleep is a "pretty good way to make sleep harder."