Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris

The Science of Sleep | Dr. Sara Mednick

If you’re trying to improve your sleep, thinking about doing so right before you get into bed might not be the best approach.  Dr. Sara Mednick, is a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of California, Irvine, and the author of the new book <a href="https://www.hachettego.com/titles/sara-c-mednick-phd/the-hidden-power-of-the-downstate/9781549136191/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Power of the Downstate</a>. This episode is part of our month-long “Mental Health Reboot” series to mark Mental Health Awareness Month.  According to her research, Dr. Mednick says that we need to take a more holistic approach to getting better sleep, and that sleep is just one of the ways that our bodies rest and restore.   In this conversation, we talk about:The nuances of nappingDr. Mednick’s definition of the “downstate”Whether there are practices that can compensate for poor sleepWhy heart rate variability is an important measurement of healthWhy sex is so helpful for sleepAnd when to take melatonin to best effect Full Shownotes: <a href="https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/sara-mednick-445" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/sara-mednick-445</a> See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

Dan Harris is a fidgety, skeptical journalist who had a panic attack on live national television, which led him to try something he otherwise never would have considered: meditation. He went on to write the bestselling book, 10% Happier. On this show, Dan talks with eminent meditation teachers, top scientists, and even the odd celebrity. Guests include everyone from His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Brené Brown to Karamo from Queer Eye. On some episodes, Dan ventures into the deep end of the pool, covering subjects such as enlightenment and psychedelics. On other episodes, it’s science-based techniques for issues such as anxiety, productivity, and relationships. Dan's approach is seemingly modest, but secretly radical: happiness is a skill you can train, just like working your bicep in the gym. Your progress may be incremental at first, but like any good investment, it compounds over time.New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free. Listen 1-week early and to all episodes ad-free with Wondery+ or Amazon Music with a Prime membership or Amazon Music Unlimited subscription.