Good quality sleep is essential for physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Unfortunately, a new WebMD survey on sleep quality revealed that many Americans don’t get as much good quality sleep as they need, even though they spend enough time in bed. Seven in ten surveyed rated their sleep over the previous month as “good” or “very good,” but 36% said they slept for at least seven hours. On average, respondents snoozed for just 5.7 hours per night, which is far short of what you need for optimum health.
Based on the survey, many reported they had been diagnosed with one or more sleep disorders, such as insomnia (17%), obstructive sleep apnea (14%), and restless legs syndrome (13%). Fixing your sleep schedule and improving your sleep quality can benefit more than just your health. Sleep-related problems cost Americans some $16 billion annually in medical bills. Marri Horvat MD of Cleveland Clinic’s Sleep Disorders Center warns that depending on the cause, poor sleep can impact various organs, from your skin to your heart and brain.
If you’ve been struggling to improve your sleep quality, there’s no harm in turning to experts in the field. Nowadays, you can easily get your hands on sleep and wellness ebooks to gain insights from experts and qualified professionals. Below, we’ll explain how reading ebooks can help you sleep better and share four science-backed ebook recommendations for better sleep:
Reading ebooks to sleep better
One of the advantages that ebooks have over their traditional print counterparts is that you don’t need to switch on any additional light sources to be able to read at night or before bedtime. Aside from being a space saver, ebooks are also convenient as they can be accessed on multiple devices. If you were reading an ebook on your laptop or tablet, for example, you can easily switch over to your smartphone for bedtime reading and pick up where you left off.
Currently, some leading ebook subscription platforms offer various titles from experts in different fields. Some of the wellness ebooks on Everand include trending titles like Matthew Walker’s Why We Sleep, as well as other wellness nonfiction bestsellers like The Obesity Code and The 5 Languages. Some of the best science-based sleep ebooks take a holistic and scientific approach to understanding the science behind sleep and how you can improve your sleeping habits to boost physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Of course, these books are only part of the puzzle. One of the best ways to read ebooks before bed is to reduce as much blue light from your digital screens as possible, such as by using e-ink devices like digital ebook readers. This way, you can take in as many good sleeping tips as possible without disrupting your sleep. Below are four essential science-backed ebooks on better sleep to help you on your journey:
Why We Sleep – Matthew Walker
Released in 2017, Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams remains one of the most recommended books on sleep and its impact on our life, wellness, and longevity. In Why We Sleep, author Matthew Walker outlines sleep strategies to help establish a healthy sleep routine. This includes avoiding caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol before bedtime, as well as keeping your sleeping environment dark, cool, and clean. More importantly, Walker emphasizes that sleep is an intimate and personal act, and fixing your sleep can help one function well in life.
Restful Sleep – Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is a physician and best-selling author of Ageless Body. This particular book shares holistic tips for falling asleep easily without trying. Chopra teaches readers to identify and eliminate the imbalances that may be causing insomnia to better achieve a healthy balance between rest and activity. So, if you’re looking to apply your new learnings from Chopra, he also partnered with smartwatch company Fitbit to launch a new collection in Fitbit’s mindfulness series. This included a mindfulness and meditation session covering topics such as managing your emotions, winding down for the day, and stress relief.
The Sleep Prescription – Aric Prather
Next on the list is a book by renowned sleep scientist Dr. Aric Prather. The Sleep Prescription offers a simple but highly efficient plan to improve your sleep in seven days. Dr. Prather runs one of the world’s most successful sleep clinics and uses his insights and expertise to share powerful sleep tips beyond the obvious solutions, such as retraining your brain, energizing yourself the right way, and setting your internal clock.
Sleep Wise – Daniel Blum
Finally, from Dr. Daniel Blum, Sleep Wise goes in-depth into the daily activities and habits that significantly impact one’s sleep and overall health, including physical exercise and diet. The book also focuses on techniques such as sleep science, mindfulness practices, and real-world examples to support a mindful and sustainable sleep practice. At the same time, Sleep Wise is also a good reminder of all the benefits of getting adequate sleep.
If you found this post helpful or interesting, you could check out our post for Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, emphasizing the importance of sleep for your heart health. Today, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) claims more than 356,000 lives in the US annually. Learning how sleep can benefit heart health is a good way to reduce SCA risk.
