Hi there! My name is Gabe. I’m currently a social media intern at Verlo. I was assigned to discuss and provide feedback on an article with sleep tips from Dr. Michael Breus, a sleep doctor who has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show. Considering that sleep is something I love greatly, it was my honor to comment on this article.

Thankfully, I have never had too much trouble falling asleep. Whenever my head hits the pillow, I am usually so tired that I fall into my dreams in just a couple of minutes. I view my bed as the most comfortable place on the planet. However, I definitely feel the pain of others when they describe the inconsistency they experience when trying to fall asleep. Sleep really is one of the most important aspects to a healthy life.

These days, it doesn’t seem the world has many universal similarities. However, sleep is one of those, and always has been. Everybody sleeps, and many people have trouble falling asleep.

Dr. Breus’ Sleep Tips

Sleep Doctor Michael Breus’ tips on how to gain a more rounded and consistent sleep schedule definitely make sense. Some of his tips include:

• Not drinking coffee after 2 p.m.
• Not drinking alcohol three hours before sleep
• Not exercising four hours before bed

Fortunately, I have never really had to try any of these as a way to eliminate insomnia. However, I have gone to bed early in order to wake up early a few times. I have also relaxed at night, along with trying to develop a steady sleep schedule.

When I do go to bed early, it feels as if I have embarked on a new life. Waking up refreshed is one of the best feelings, and it really does create a tremendous impact on my day. Being a college student, I am often up late working on homework and studying. Unfortunately, that typically means that I do not hit the hay until 11 p.m. or sometimes midnight.

One thing I had to laugh at from the article was Breus’ idea of to waking up early on weekends. For instance, he suggests that if you wake up at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, you should also wake up at the same time on Saturday and Sunday.

I couldn’t imagine doing that. The weekends are my time to sleep in, and they always have been. Thankfully, it has not caught up to me in a negative manner just yet, but even if it does, I will probably keep doing it.

While I was reading the article, I was reminded of one of the tricks I have developed. Whenever my alarm goes off, I am always tempted to hit the snooze button. I can never avoid it. However, I can alleviate the chances of running late by setting my alarm earlier than I actually need to get up. By doing that, I can hit the snooze button and trick my brain into the idea that I slept longer. I am not a psychology major, but I feel as if that belongs in the psychological hall of fame.

Sleep really is one of the most crucial element necessary for living a beneficial life. It sets the tone of your day. If I wake up and only had three hours of sleep, I end up stepping out my front door in a groggy and grumpy mindset. I feel like I could fall down and take a nap anywhere. I look forward to trying the steps that Dr. Breus provided to see if I can take my sleeping game to the next level.