How to Optimise Sleep and Find the Right Rhythm for You

‘If you are relaxed and ready for sleep you are increasing your chances of effective sleep’ Angela is with Dr Greg Potter PhD who is a specialist in sleep and nutrition optimisation. He is passionate about finding solutions for those experience sleep fragmentation and sleep deprivation and in this fascinating episode packed with useful content explains how sleep patterns are established and the factors that impact on the type and duration of sleep individuals achieve. They discuss in detail the importance of a good pre-sleep routine and understanding whether you are a night owl or early bird, listen in and learn.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Most people understand that it’s important to be exposed to high-intensity light during the day and that regular exercise impacts on how quickly you fall asleep. A sleep diary can be an effective way of tracking sleep patterns to identify issues and bedtime restriction therapy can be used to improve sleep efficiency. In a healthy person cortisol peaks in the day and declines in preparation for sleep. It’s vital to have a good pre-sleep routine and undertake activities that help quieten the mind. Before you wake there should be a spike in cortisol, it is part of a rhythmic process that is preparing your body to be able to cope with the activities of the day People who are not in optimal health experience lower amounts of cortisol in preparation for the day and a higher level at night-time which impacts on sleep. If you are an A-type personality research has shown making a detailed ‘to do’ list in preparation for the next day can aid restful sleep. Different chronotypes such as night owls and early birds respond in different ways to the stimulus that impact on circadian rhythms. If a couple are differing types, and it is extreme, a sleep divorce – where you sleep in a different bed to your partner may be the solution. It’s vital to look for a solution that is manageable for both partners as sleep deprivation and disrupted sleep have a huge impact on people’s daily lives There is not a one size fits all for sleep duration and it changes during your life span. The amount you need, as an individual change, continually but when you extend and improve your sleep then you will improve cognitive function. When co-ordinating sleep timing its vital to understand the different timing constructs. The social clock -the timing of the day The environmental clock – the earth about its axis The biological clocks –  that bring the changes to rhythms in our biology People differ in the timing of these clocks and this manifests itself as differences in chronotype. During the biological night time, your body is synthesising melatonin during daytime the amount of melatonin produced is almost zero and you are ready for activity.   BEST MOMENTS ‘Adolescents naturally shift to a later wake time and research has shown that later school start times would have a huge and positive impact not only on adolescents but on wider society’ ‘Physical activity is a key driver for anyone wanting to achieve optimum sleep’ ‘You can’t oversleep you can only sleep as much as you need’   VALUABLE RESOURCES High Performance Health podcast series\ Transform your sleep DNA optimization  Greg Potter Instagram    ABOUT THE HOST Angela Foster Angela is a Nutritionist, Health and Performance Coach. She is also the Founder and CEO of My DNA Edge, an Exclusive Private Membership Site giving individuals the tools and bio hacks needed to optimise their genetic expression for optimal health and performance. After recovering from a serious illness in 2014, Angela left the world of Corporate Law with a single mission in mind: To inspire and educate others to live an energetic, healthful and limitless life. Angela believes that we can truly have it all and has spent the last 5 years researching the habits and routines of high performers, uncovering age-old secrets, time-honoured holistic practices and modern science to create a blueprint for Optimal Human Performance.   CONTACT DETAILS Instagram Facebook LinkedIn High Performance Health FB Group