This week’s conversation is with Dr. Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist, better known as the “Sleep Doctor.”

Michael is both a Diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

He was one of the youngest people to pass the Board at age 31 with a specialty in Sleep Disorders.

Michael was also recently named both the Top Sleep Specialist in California by Readers Digest, and one of the 10 most influential people in sleep.

Sleep is critical to just about everything we want to do with our lives and I feel like we’re at a point where more people are starting to realize its importance.

The thing is, there’s a lot of information currently circulating on sleep and it can be tricky sorting out which is the right research to follow.

Michael believes the key to sleep is not necessarily about getting 8 hours a night, but rather understanding how much sleep your body needs and more importantly, what hours of the day your body is primed to function optimally.

This is a fascinating conversation on something every single one of us can relate to.

“Believe in yourself. Limits are perceptions more times than not. I think being cautious is worthwhile to a point but there are definitely times where I will put myself in an unknown situation just to see what happens, just what’s to shake loose.”

In This Episode:

  • His path to becoming a sleep expert – he didn’t have the pedigree to get into the school he wanted but a found a way in
  • His childhood experience was highly disruptive… mom left him, dad was bankrupt
  • What was it about his childhood experience that taught him how to figure it out when times get tough?
  • The gift his dad gave him— the belief that anything was possible, that limitations were perceptions
  • His method for now translating those same beliefs to his own son
  • The factors most important for personal growth
  • What’s allowed him to be successful and why he doesn’t mind going against the grain of his colleagues
  • The key to sleep: not about getting 8 hours but rather understanding how much sleep your body actually needs
  • Reimagined sleep chronoytypes: lions, bears, wolves, and dolphins
  • How these chronotypes effect all aspects of live: sex, productivity, performance etc.
  • Why professional sports teams need to be factoring this in when they determine which players are right for the team
  • The most common sleep issues he sees in his patients and the most practical solutions
  • Why a consistent wakeup time is the most important component of sleep
  • 5 easy things to fix your sleep: consistency, caffeine, alcohol, exercise, morning routine (hydration + sunlight)

Listen, Watch & Subscribe

Related Episodes

For a complete list of all Finding Mastery sponsors, vanity URLs & discount codes, visit Our Sponsors.
Stay up-to-date with the latest high performance and wellbeing podcasts and content with the Finding Mastery weekly newsletter.