Sleep Talk: Episode 49 – Social Time
What is social time, how does it relate to daylight saving time and what happens when it is out of sync with sun time and our own internal time?
Sleep is a biological process than can be managed if we understand it. Scientific research in this area is evolving rapidly, yet there are still many commonly believed myths about sleep. Keeping up to date and understanding how sleep really works is essential for healthy sleep.
Scroll through the posts below for information on sleep or search our archive for specific topics.
What is social time, how does it relate to daylight saving time and what happens when it is out of sync with sun time and our own internal time?
Medicinal cannabinoids are being increasingly prescribed for a range of conditions including sleep. Do cannabinoids help sleep? How are they prescribed?
Tracking sleep over time can give helpful insights into sleep patterns and ways of improving sleep. This month we discuss the latest technologies for tracking sleep and interesting ways these [...]
What is sleep hygiene? Does it work? Can we be too careful about sleep? We discuss the pros and cons of sleep hygiene and put its role in perspective.
Is sharing a bed with a partner good for sleep? Partners can be noisy and move around but they can provide a sense of security and closeness.
Alcohol is commonly used as a sleep aid, but does it really help sleep?
Hear the latest updates on sleep research from the Sleep 2019 meeting.
How does what we eat impact on sleep? What foods or types of diet can help with sleep?
When we eat may be just as important as what we eat for managing obesity and health. We talk to Dr Gerda Pot about the emerging field of chrono-nutrition.
Is it really normal to sleep for 8 hours undisturbed each night, or is that just an unrealistic expectation? We talk to Darian Leader about normal sleep.
Menopause is a time of significant changes in sleep, as well as a range of other symptoms. Why does this occur and how can symptoms be addressed?
What happens to sleep during pregnancy? What is the best way to deal with sleep through pregnancy?
Symptoms of tiredness, fatigue and sleepiness are common in chronic fatigue syndrome. How can these symptoms be addressed and sleep improved in people with fatigue syndromes?
Are naps a good idea? How long should naps be? How can you get better at napping? Listen to this episode of Sleep Talk as we tackle these questions.
What are the common sleeping pills used for insomnia? When should they be used and what should you look out for when using sleeping pills?
How is sleepiness measured? Can sleepiness from different causes be differentiated? What new tools are being developed?
Binge drinking or using illicit drugs can have significant effects on sleep long after they are out of your system.
What changes in sleep are seen in depression? What can be done to improve sleep disturbance and sleepiness in depression?
What really is the relationship between light, the circadian rhythm and mood? How might modern anti-depressants alter that relationship?
Highlights from the Sleep Down Under 2018 meeting in Brisbane. Topics highlighted are narcolepsy, insomnia, sleep health, and obstructive sleep apnea.
Interested in the latest research on sleep discussed by world experts? Check out this update from the Sleep 2018 meeting in Baltimore.
Throughout history there have been lots of theories about the content of dreams and meaning of dreams. Do dreams really have meaning?
Sleep problems are very common in people with traumatic brain injury. What can sleep problems in this group and what can be done about them?
The body clock is important in cancer, with shift workers exposed to light at night having increased cancer risk, and the emerging field of chronotherapeutics changing the way we think about the [...]
Sleep problems are very common in people with cancer. What can be done to help address sleep difficulties in people with cancer?
How you think and behave during the day impacts on sleep and can result in the brain being over stimulated at night. This is hyperarousal. How does it impact sleep and what can be done about it?
We’re all busy, but how does being busy impact on sleep? In modern Western society, being busy is worn like a badge of honour. Colleagues will often ask, ‘Are you busy?’, but rarely ask if [...]
Does a nightcap help with sleep? Is this a good strategy or a road to trouble? It’s very common for me to see people who use alcohol to help with sleep, and 28% of insomniacs have used [...]
Getting good sleep is important in optimising performance in sport. But it's also important for athletes not to get too anxious about sleep.
Understanding sleep beliefs and behaviours in different cultures can help better understand your own beliefs about sleep, and in turn change your expectations around sleep.
What can be done to reduce the effects of jet lag? We discuss a range of strategies from using apps to manage light exposure to what airlines are doing to have passengers arriving fresh at their [...]
Economics can help to quantify the cost of inadequate sleep to the community, and can also help with designing systems that promote health sleep.
Sleep can be challenging in children with special needs and this can impact on their health and the family as a whole. We talk about why sleep is hard, and strategies for improving sleep.
Sleep apnea is common and can cause significant symptoms. But how can it be treated and how do you decide what treatment to use?
Many people are seen to have snoring and periods of stopping breathing during sleep. But does everyone who has sleep apnea need treatment?
Interested in the latest research on sleep discussed by world experts? Check out this update from the Sleep 2017 meeting in Boston.
Do you get winter blues? Why does this happen? What can we do about it? It is all about light or are there other factors involved in winter blues?
What is mindfulness? How is it used? How can it help with sleep? These are all questions we try to answer in this episode's discussion on mindfulness.
Headaches are a common symptom in people with sleep disorders, and headaches can also cause sleep problems.
Marijuana or cannabis use is common, particularly before bed time, but does it help with sleep?
Orexin is a 'master controller' of the sleep wake control system. It stimulates the wake-promoting system and stabilises the switching between wake and sleep.
Dreaming. We all do it, but what is it really? Are all dreams the same? Do they have meaning? How should we think about dreams?
Measuring sleep used to be the domain of the sleep laboratory, but new technologies allow sleep to be measured at home. How well do new devices work?
Orexin is one of the key neurotransmitters in the regulation of sleep and wake. Blocking orexin with suvorexant is a treatment for insomnia.
New Year is a time for many to make a new start or set goals for the coming year. This month we talk making changes that stick for health and sleep.
Is there a link between sleep and exercise? Does exercise help to improve sleep? How much exercise? What type? What time of the day?
Behavioural activation is an intervention that encourages increased engagement in life's activity. It can help with symptoms of tiredness and depression.
For people who have trouble sleeping, sleep can seem elusive. The pathway to better sleep is often through letting go and being less careful about sleep.
Feeling tired? Do others tell you to just get over it? Feeling tired is pretty common. In fact, recent research has shown that around 15% of the population report feeling tired. In people of [...]
Couldn’t make it to Sleep Down Under 2016? Here are some of the things that caught my eye. Sleep Down Under is the annual scientific meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association, the peak [...]