Discovering that sleep is a learnable skill can be life-changing for anyone struggling with insomnia or poor sleep quality. Mollie Eastman, founder of Sleep is a Skill, shares her transformative journey from battling severe insomnia while traveling internationally to becoming a sleep optimization expert who has coached high-stakes poker players and interviewed over 250 sleep specialists.

At the heart of quality sleep lies our circadian rhythm – a 24-hour biological clock that governs countless bodily functions. Modern life has disconnected us from natural light-dark cycles, with the average person spending 90% of their time indoors since 2001. This disconnection disrupts our internal timekeeping system, leading to sleep difficulties that conventional medicine often fails to address properly. Most doctors receive less than two hours of sleep training, and an estimated 80% of people with sleep apnea remain undiagnosed despite serious health consequences.

Mollie unpacks the concept of "zeitgebers" or time-givers – environmental cues that help keep our internal clocks calibrated. These include light exposure (the most powerful signal), temperature fluctuations, meal timing, exercise patterns, and even thought cycles. Simple strategies like getting morning sunlight, limiting evening blue light, finishing meals earlier, and maintaining consistent sleep-wake schedules can dramatically strengthen your circadian rhythm and improve sleep quality.

Perhaps most fascinating is the brain's glymphatic system – a cleanup mechanism that activates primarily during deep sleep to wash away metabolic waste. When sleep is compromised, this maintenance process can't function properly, potentially contributing to conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia. By treating sleep as a skill rather than a fixed trait, we open ourselves to tremendous improvement potential that transforms not just our nights but our entire experience of life.

Ready to reclaim your sleep? Visit https://www.sleepisaskill.com/ to take a sleep assessment, sign up for the weekly newsletter, or explore personalized coaching options that combine technology, accountability, and behavioral change for lasting results! 

Connect with Mollie and her team:

Website: https://www.sleepisaskill.com/   
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-eastman-sleep-is-a-skill-82531825/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollie.eastman
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sleepisaskill
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleepisaskill/

Disclaimer: The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. This podcast is not a medical service; the information provided is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. The Root Cause Solutions For You, its practitioners, and employees make no warranties, express or implied, concerning the contents. The information shared in this episode is the opinion of the speaker and should not be considered medical advice. You should never disregard medical advice or delay seeking it because of the contents of this episode.