Stop Obsessing Over Sleep: Why 7 Hours Isn't The Magic Number

The speech argues that there's a growing obsession with sleep and a focus on achieving the 'perfect' amount and quality of sleep. This is fueled by a plethora of products and advice columns that tell us we're sleeping wrong, and can lead to anxiety, unrealistic expectations, and even a condition called orthosomnia. The speech points out two flaws in this messaging. Firstly, fixating solely on seven to eight hours of sleep ignores the fact that there's a range of sleep that people need and some may be fine on less. Secondly, the doomsday messaging can be counterproductive and lead to more sleep problems.

The speech suggests that instead of fixating on the number of hours of sleep, people should ask themselves if they feel reasonably well-rested during the day, sleep through the night without disturbances, and can stay awake during the day without involuntarily falling asleep. If these answers are yes, then there's no need to worry about sleep. If struggling with sleep, talking with a doctor and trying evidence-based recommendations like cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) can be effective without the need for expensive gadgets or medications.