What is the link between bedtime and mental health? Are you better off being a Night Owl or an Early Bird? Does it matter?
This is a timely topic considering the massive proportion of folks in our population struggling with mental health issues. It’s also relative to how we treat folks who have mental health issues. For example, is a medication really required or is it perhaps a sleep adjustment that is required? Are folks even aware of the significant connection between bedtime and mental health?
On episode 191 of Causes or Cures, I chatted with Dr. Jamie Zeitzer about his recently published research on the link between one’s bedtime preference and mental health. He explains which sleep pattern correlates with better mental health and which correlates with poorer mental health.
Unfortunately for night owls, he offers hypotheses on why going to bed late, regardless of preference, is associated with worse mental health. He also discusses the benefits and risks of daytime naps, the ideal “sleep” temperature, and provides general recommendations for achieving optimal sleep. For podcast listeners who are Night Owls, pay attention to the “Mind after Midnight” hypothesis discussed in the podcast. I think simply having awareness about it will help ya’ll.
Dr. Zeitzer is a researcher, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Co-Director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences at Stanford University.
After you tune in to this podcast on bedtime and mental health, check out this one on how a doctor from the Mayo Clinic discovered 4 different types of obesity, a discovery that could revolutionize how we treat obesity. If you struggle with your weight, you will want to tune in!
Also, check out this one on how much doctors are being paid by pharmaceutical industries to promote specific drugs on X (or Twitter).
Causes or Cures is also available on my Youtube channel if you are not into podcast apps.
Thanks for reading and see you out there. ;)