What sleep deprivation does to your body and brain, and what you can do to get the rest you need

The quantity and quality of our sleep affects every part of our health — but most of us aren’t getting enough of it. Here’s what we can do to get the rest we need

I’ll admit it. I’m a total sleep nerd. Dare I say, a sleep junkie? I relish a restorative, peaceful Shabbos afternoon nap like anyone else, but the best way for me to function in my prime is to get eight to eight-and-a-half hours of sleep every night. Still, even though I’m super diligent about trying to get a good night’s sleep, I often do go to bed much later than I should.

Sound familiar?

Aside from loving to actually, well, sleep, I find the science of sleep completely fascinating. I read sleep studies and look for patterns associating sleep and mood, and especially children’s sleep needs and functionality. In fact, I love it so much that after suffering from sleep deprivation after having my first child, I made it my job, quite literally, to help others get a good night’s sleep, too.

Like any skill, sleeping well often needs to be taught. As a baby sleep coach, I’ve found that some children (and adults) naturally embrace it, while others require more learning and practice. And if the number of men who nod off during the rabbi’s speech on Friday night and the women who fall asleep on the couch after lichtbentshen is anything to go by, it’s not just the babies in our community who could stand to improve their sleep habits.

The post The Science of Sleep first appeared on Mishpacha Magazine.