The various ailments of humans are deeply connected to sleep, especially its relationship with brain function. We spend one-third of our day asleep, so if you were to live to be 100 years old, you would spend 30 years sleeping. Sleep is, therefore, a crucial activity for humans and cannot be neglected.

Recently, I’ve heard many acquaintances in their 40s and 50s complaining about not being able to get restful sleep anymore. It’s clear that being able to wake up refreshed and recharged like in their younger days, regardless of whether they drink, cry, or laugh, is a significant factor contributing to their health issues.

How is your sleep?

Do you often find it difficult to sleep even when you’re in bed? Do you wake up in the middle of the night with racing thoughts? Do you not wake up feeling refreshed? Do you feel tired even after sleeping? Do any of these sound familiar?

Sleep has become a modern-day issue. Poor sleep quality not only affects cognitive functions like perception, judgment, and thinking but also impacts hormone function, metabolism, reproductive function, and all other bodily functions. Lack of sleep can even accelerate cellular aging.

It’s been only around 10,000 years since our distant ancestors slept in caves or holes. Our habits from those days, sleeping in the darkness with no noise and living in sync with the sun, are still encoded in our genes and haven’t adapted to the rapid changes in our environment. Urban living, in particular, is filled with factors that disrupt sleep in various ways, making it even more challenging.

So, how can we achieve comfortable and restful sleep? 

In the upcoming five parts of the series titled “What it takes to get the best sleep,” I will explore the often-overlooked aspects of modern society that affect our sleep quality. Beyond the common advice like exercise, avoiding stimulants, and bedtime meditation, I will delve deeper into the blind spots in our modern lives and share insights on how to improve sleep quality. Please stay tuned and read along as we explore the topic of sleep together.