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© Colin Espie / Scriberia
The start of a new year prompts many of us to reflect on our bad habits and instil better ones, particularly with regards to our health. While the longer evenings leave many wanting to curl up and sleep, a new animated video resets our thinking on sleep and how to get it right.
A new short animation, based on the research of Professor Colin Espie, explores how ‘better sleep’ can fundamentally improve our health and wellbeing. The video helps people to follow the 5 principles of good sleep health: valuing, prioritising, personalising, protecting and trusting sleep.
The 5 principles are a framework for good sleep health to be used at all ages and stages in life whether you’re a teenager or a sleep deprived parent; if you’re struggling with working night shifts or navigating the menopause. These are principles which apply to everyone and are practical to use.
The animation aims to help people understand that sleep is the ‘treatment’ that nature provides for our daily health and well-being. Sleep is not down-time or off-time. Rather the brain is highly productive at night – cleansing, repairing, and restoring us physically, cognitively, and emotionally. Sleep is something to value and prioritise.
This guidance is based on based on research by Professor Colin Espie, Professor of Sleep Medicine in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences and NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (OH BRC) Better Sleep Theme Co-Lead.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences website.