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Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration (2023)

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Re: Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration (2023)

#231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Do you think our ancestors slept exactly 8 hours a night from 10pm to 6am? Yeah I pretty much do expect that (but more like 6 or 7). They were awake a few hours after sunset by fire light, then get up fairly early. I certainly don't imagine them napping during the day, when they could be working together to get food, unless it's a climate where it's too hot to do anything in the middle of the day. Studies of modern…

Watch male lions they sleep when they want, laze about all day until they need to eat. Or you can be a deer caught in the corporate wage slave, alarm clock prisoner headlights.

Artificial light has a huge effect on drowsiness for me. This is quite noticable when I am out in the woods, camping in a tent. After sundown, I have about an hour left before I get so drowsy that I cannot keep my eyes open. Back home, indoors, I can stay awake almost indefinitely.

Re: Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration (2023)

#232

My problem is that I'm always sleepy throughout the day and when I have to go to bed at nigh, then I feel so active and energetic, as if my body tries its best to avoid sleeping.

This is a shifted circadian rhythm. If you get up late, you'll be sleepy late; additionally, blue-light exposure at night (from screens) suppresses melatonin production and can delay onset. The fix isn't to "go to bed early" first, it's to get up early and get exposure to sunlight then and during the day, and the sleep pressure in the evening will follow in kind. This is further facilitated by giving yourself time in the evening to wind-down away from screens, by having a ritual/routine (an hour at least) such as preparing breakfast, reading, doing yoga, whatever.

Think of it like jet lag. If you travel to the other side of the world, you rapidly shift schedule in accordance with your habits (the timing of your meals, light exposure, activity, socializing etc), whether that be night or day. These inputs more than ever influence morning-ness or evening-ness qua chronotype, with the advent of limitless evening light and entertainment.

Re: Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration (2023)

#233

I read the abstract, pretty interesting. I did a word search for "wake" looking for if they talked at all about early waking times being correlated with overall regularity, as that has been my personal experience. Unfortunately they didn't talk about it, or if they did I couldn't find it.

I am also curious about this. The best sleep I ever had was when I was teaching an early morning class. Part of my morning routine is a short run, so this meant I was regularly waking up at 5am. I fell asleep regularly at 9pm when I was on this schedule. I use a sleep band [1] to track sleep, and it was the only time when I've been able to consistently get "high scores" on it.

[1] https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/1650098/

Re: Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration (2023)

#234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your comment sounds like an AI-generated advertisement.

So where's the advert link to his favourite supplement, search those phrases and there will be 200 different brands selling this same commodity so which one is paying him commission ? All? Hmmmmmmm People sharing their experience doesnt immediately mean AI-generated advert

All of those supplements are made with “magtein (r)” branded magnesium l-threonate. It all goes back to the same company and that company is the one that has supplied the “studies” that prove its effectiveness. And by “supplied” I mean that the literal vice president of the company’s research arm was an author on at least one of their studies but didn’t disclose his connections until a follow-up update to the study.

Re: Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration (2023)

#235
post #50

I kinda realize that the most important factor for personal success (whatever kind of success you want) is mental stability. Like, John Carmack said that he NEVER burned out, never went into a dark corner (verbatim from his interview), and everyone agrees that he works like a machine. And I don't think he actually spent a lot of mental training to achieve that stability, because, he has been like that from a young ag…

Carmack always seemed to have a really strong idea on what was important for him to work on. How much of that is mental toughness vs having a believable purpose? Believable is important because you have to internally 100% without a doubt believe that what you're doing is the right thing to be doing now. As soon as the "what ifs" starts to creep in for the big picture items or goals, that can destroy everything. I'm n…

You are spot on. I see all this in me, too. Very interesting to encounter your take.

I try to turn what-ifs into actions. Instead of a what if rumination it is a small task, or a small trial of something, or a move in general forward rather than not. Not even remotely close to doing this well all the time, but I notice an overall boost in mood and productivity when I reorient my mint to progress rather searching in the uncertainty space.

Re: Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration (2023)

#236
A good night's sleep is no longer an option for me. My area is experiencing widespread, constant ground vibrations throughout the day and night. It feels as if your whole body is vibrating. No supplement can help with that, and there's nothing the local authorities can do until the major construction projects are completed over the next few years.

Re: Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration (2023)

#237
I wonder how many of these "surprising" results are markers of other life style decisions.

Regular sleeping hours as a marker for a less stressful life?

Also ran across this:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5105607/

I doubt it's the actual reading. Maybe having a calmer life where you take the time to relax with a book.

Re: Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration (2023)

#239

The only thing that has worked for me to keep my sleep regular is to go outside first thing in the morning and sit for 15-20 minutes. Rain or shine. Even if it's cold or cloudy. This has been game changing and keeps me on a regular sleep routine.

Seconding that the time you get up, and light exposure then and during the day, has a massive impact. If you habitually sleep in late, then "going to bed early" does not work as you'll lack sleep pressure. It's putting the cart before the horse. You have to treat it the same way we do jet lag; when we travel to the other side of the world, we adjust by just gritting through the morning. Takes few days to shift.

Re: Sleep regularity is a stronger predictor of mortality risk than sleep duration (2023)

#240
post #82

Magnesium supplementation solved my sleep issues. I have seen many doctors, including sleep specialists, regarding insomnia. They all pointed to one source as the reason for the sleep issues: stress. And they all wanted to put me on prescription sleeping pills. I said no to that. Sleeping pills can cause dependence, and they often treat the symptom rather than the underlying cause. As a software developer, I am used…

Steve Jobs?
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