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Do You Really Need 8 Hours of Sleep Every Night? | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter | TED
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Do You Really Need 8 Hours of Sleep Every Night? | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter | TED

Sleep and the Importance of Quality Rest

This section discusses the importance of sleep and the misconceptions surrounding it.

The Urgency Around Sleep

  • There is a growing fascination with sleep and an urgency to improve it.
  • The internet is filled with articles, gadgets, and advice on how to achieve perfect sleep.
  • However, not all the information is accurate or applicable to everyone.

Flaws in Sleep Messaging

  • The common belief that less than seven hours of sleep per night leads to health problems is not entirely accurate.
  • The ideal duration of sleep varies for different individuals.
  • Fixating on a specific number can be counterproductive and cause anxiety for those who struggle with sleep.

Orthosomnia and Obsession with Sleep Data

  • Some people become obsessed with tracking their sleep data, leading to a condition called orthosomnia.
  • Orthosomnia can worsen sleep problems instead of improving them.
  • It's important to focus on how well-rested you feel during the day rather than fixating on numbers.

Seeking Professional Help

  • Instead of relying on expensive gadgets or filters, consult a doctor if you're struggling with sleep issues.
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective therapy without medication involved.
Channel: TED
Video description

When you can't sleep, you're desperate for help. And there's a booming industry waiting to tell you all the ways a lack of sleep can ruin your health -- and to sell you fancy gadgets to help you finally doze off. Shedding light on this flawed doomsday messaging, Dr. Jen Gunter explains why you shouldn't lose sleep over sleep -- and what to do instead. (For more on how your body works, tune in to her podcast, Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter, from the TED Audio Collective.) Think you know how your body works? Think again! In this TED original series, Dr. Jen Gunter will share the truth about what's *really* going on inside you. For more, tune into her podcast, Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter: https://link.chtbl.com/BodyStuffYT Follow TED! Twitter: http://twitter.com/TEDTalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ted Facebook: http://facebook.com/TED LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world's leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit http://TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Watch more: https://ted.com/bodystuff https://youtu.be/fQUeDdaVoWo TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-talks-usage-policy. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com #TED #health #sleep