We’ve all had those nights when sleep seems elusive, and no matter how comfy our bed is or how many sheep we’ve counted, the night is spent fitfully tossing and turning until the alarm goes off.
If you find it hard to fall or stay asleep, you’re not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than a third of all Americans are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis.
Yet achieving a good night’s sleep shouldn’t become just another to-do list item that seems like work and creates even more stress in your life, says Dr. William Christopher Winter, author of “The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It” (Berkley, 2017), a candid and humorous book that helps readers understand the science of sleep.
“There are few health issues that cause more stress and anxiety than sleep problems and few that are as innocuous and treatable,” Winter says in the opening of his book. A board-certified sleep medicine specialist and neurologist, Winter specializes in sleep in elite athletes. He has advised numerous professional athletic organizations, including the San Francisco Giants and the New York Rangers.
Nicknamed “The Sleep Whisperer,” Winter shares his advice on why he considers sleep to be the third pillar of good health (after exercising and eating a healthy diet) and how to get a better night’s rest.