Ever Wonder What Can Make You Better At Everything? Neuroscientist Explains It's Sleep

Naps make everything better. This is not just an opinion some Genzer is selling as a hack on the internet, but a researched claim one neuroscientist wants more people to know about. Internet-famous neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, a professor from Stanford, is on a mission to create awareness about crucial topics on which laymen have sparingly available information.

Stay Off Caffeine Right After Waking Up

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Most of us crave caffeine the second we wake up. While boomers would prefer tea over coffee, millennials and Gen Zers have stuck to the habit of relying on coffee for dear life as they float through their daily chores.

While coffee appeals to your palate, it is not exactly the most healthy start to your day. If you are one of those working professionals who prefer to keep a tall tumbler full of caffeine in their car cup holders, then it seems you have been doing mornings wrong all this time.

Huberman shared his "perfect morning routine" and spilled his secrets to maintaining his sanity without fueling his body with caffeine boosts, and it seems sleep is a big factor in achieving the best mornings and upgrading yourself.

The Best Morning Routine To Boost Your Day

The neuroscientist went on a YouTube channel called 'After Skool¡¯ and showed off his routine to the viewers. To get an extra boost in the morning, Huberman says he starts his day early and wakes up every day by 6:30 a.m.

However, he skips the traditional trudge across the apartment to the kitchen, where he would blindly make a cup of coffee to kickstart the day. Rather, the Stanford professor heads out for a walk in the sun (if it's out by then).

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He returns home after 10 to 15 minutes, depending on his mood and schedule, and heads to the kitchen. No, he does not touch the coffee machine but rather fixes a glass of water and salt to start his day.

While it might sound intense and hardcore, Huberman claims the morning routine has worked wonders for his life. He said, "I'm certain that these tools work." He then proceeds to start his work and only has his first meal of the day at around 11 a.m.

But Huberman concedes that no matter the amount of salt you put in your morning water or the crispness of the sun rays that fall on you in the morning, sound sleep will always trump any hack to maintain your productivity throughout the day.

Neuroscientist Says Sleep Can Change A Person

He says, ¡°There are certain foundational behaviours - certain dos and don'ts that set the stage for you to be better at everything.¡±

Adding, ¡°It always comes back to two elements - that's sleep and what I call non-sleep deep rest. Sleep is the fundamental practice or part of our 24-hour cycle where if you don't get it on a consistent basis, you are down-regulating your ability to do everything.¡±

Besides taking care of your sleep schedule and keeping it as uniform as you can, Huberman promotes his ultimate morning routine. He explains that his decision to not eat his first meal until midday improves his sugar control, heart health, and brain function.

Obviously, the neuroscientist combines a session of rigorous physical exercise with his routine. He recommends people keep up these workouts five times a week for a healthy brain and body.

Neuroscientist Says Lack Of Sleep Is The Greatest Public Health Challenge

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Besides Huberman, neuroscientist Matthew Walker also believes that lack of sleep is the greatest public health challenge we face in the 21st century. According to him, lack of sleep is not only making people sick but also degenerating their minds.

As hustle culture and productivity start to become more and more relevant in a young individual¡¯s life, sleep is starting to lose its importance and function. While before it used to be a protocol that people should at least get 7-8 hours of sleep, now this average recommendation itself has been reduced to 5¨C6 hours of sleep.

According to Walker, deadly diseases, obesity, and suicide rates all have a connection to how much sleep we are getting. Even though when we hit the bed, most of us think of it as switching off for the day, it could not be farther from the truth.

In reality, when our eyelids surrender, our brain starts working. After the lights go out, the neurons start acting up, and the cells work in harmony as the data processors sort through the bundles of information the day brought with it.

During nap time, the brain also runs internal checks to ensure the balance of hormones, enzymes, and proteins. Getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night can not only improve your concentration but also sharpen your planning and memory skills while maintaining the fat-burning systems that regulate our weight.

If, on a miraculous day, each one of us got to sleep as much as we¡¯re supposed to, we would all feel lighter and be less prone to developing Type 2 diabetes. We will most likely be better prepared to cope with depression and anxiety.

Good sleep can even lower our risk of Alzheimer¡¯s disease, osteoporosis, and cancer.

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