Sleep Toolkit: Tools for Optimizing Sleep & Sleep-Wake Timing

Information on what makes us sleepy, sleep soundly, and feel awake and alert. It covers a broad range of tools for anyone wishing to improve their sleep and wakeful state. The science and logic for each tool are described.

SLEEP OPTIMIZATION CHEAT SHEET Keep your bedroom cool. The body likes cooler temperatures to sleep. Take a warm shower or bath before bed. The drop in body temperature once you step out should signal to your body that it’s time to sleep. Use your bed for sleeping (and sex, duh) only. As soon as you wake up, get out of bed, and don’t return to it un

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It's important to get enough sleep, get good quality sleep, and let your body experience all the phases of sleep (such as slow-wave, and REM) in order to optimize metabolic circuits. It's good for your health to sleep and wake at roughly the same time, expose yourself to bright light in the morning, and dim light at night.

If there isn’t enough light (type and quality - sunlight) in the morning with a low solar angle, the wakefulness system doesn’t get triggered properly. Artificial light doesn’t activate it properly, get sunlight in the light as soon to waking as possible. Get outside with no sunglasses, through glass decreases the efficiency by 50%, once the sun is... See more

I describe the mechanisms by which different wavelengths of light impact the cells, tissues and organs of the human body, and how specifically timed light exposure of specific wavelengths can be used to improve sleep, enhance alertness, modulate hormone levels, and improve mood. I also explain the use of ultraviolet and infrared phototherapies to r... See more