Welcome back to Savvy Psychologist. I'm your guest host, Dr. Jade Wu. And for long

time listeners, I'm also a blast from the past as a former host of the show here to give

you a mini-series on my favorite topic, Sleep. And to tell you about my new book, Hello Sleep,

the Science and Art of Overcoming Insomnia Without Medications. For the next three weeks,

I'll help you meet snooze challenges with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear,

and zero judgment. Today, we start with the four biggest myths we hear about sleep.

This is what William Shakespeare said about sleep. Innocent sleep, sleep that soothes away all

our worries, heals hurt minds, sleep the main course in life's feast, and the most nourishing.

A lot has changed about our lifestyle since Shakespeare's day, but what he said about sleep

is more true than ever. Now we know that sleep doesn't just feel good, it's also crucial for

every aspect of our health. It cleans our brains, heals our injuries, fortifies our immunity,

regulates our emotions, cements our memories, suits our pain, and there's nothing in our bodies

and brains that doesn't depend on good sleep. That's why when you haven't slept well,

you're cranky and dragging and constantly misplacing your keys. That's also why people are paying

more attention to sleep. There are, for example, technological advances in sleep gadgets every year.

Jennifer Aniston and other celebrities are speaking out about their own struggles with sleep.

TikTok videos of sleep hacks are going viral. In 2020, the sleep aid industry was worth

$81 billion, and that's projected to reach $113 billion by 2025.

Part of the problem might be that we are bombarded with headlines and social media

about sleep hacks and sleep tips, and it's just hard to sort out what's true and what's not.

Does melatonin work? Just how much deep sleep should I be getting?

Is it bad that I always wake up at 2am?

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