1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,920 Speaker 1: Kitty. Do you remember our last camping trip? 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 2: Oh, let me think about that. No, because Adam, we 3 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 2: don't camp. So do you mean the last time the 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:11,240 Speaker 2: power was out of the house. 5 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 3: Yes, Like I said, camping exactly. And you hear people 6 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 3: talk about getting back to nature, but in this modern 7 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 3: world that we are in, what you and I need 8 00:00:20,360 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 3: are practical ways to sleep more naturally, and we would 9 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,000 Speaker 3: like to know would this improve our lives? 10 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,639 Speaker 2: This is a super important episode because come on, it's like, 11 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 2: if we can be more connected to nature and actually 12 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 2: connected to each other, I don't know. I have a 13 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: feeling that it's going to help us stay healthy, including 14 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 2: having healthier sleep. 15 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 1: Exactly. 16 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: I'm Katie Low's. 17 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 3: And I'm Adam Shapiro and this is Chasing Sleep, a 18 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 3: production of Ruby Studios from iHeartMedia in partnership with Mattress Firm. 19 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: In this episode, we're exploring the bare naked truth about 20 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 2: our big, beautiful world, our sleep, and how it's all connected. 21 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 2: In fact, Adam, we've been trying to connect our sleep 22 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 2: more to the world outside by seeing if we can 23 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: sink our bodies natural rhythms to the sunrise and sunset rise, sunset. 24 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 1: That's right, you and I have been using these sunrise. 25 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,960 Speaker 2: Alarm clocks and we're really into them. 26 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: I think it's been amazing. 27 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 2: Our guests today are going to help us understand the 28 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 2: relationship between nature and health and getting good sleep. 29 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. 30 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 2: With us today is doctor Jade Wu. Doctor Wu is 31 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:37,479 Speaker 2: a brilliant sleep psychologist, a Board certified behavioral sleep medicine specialist, 32 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,759 Speaker 2: a sleep advisor to Mattress Firm, and I just always 33 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: find her insights fascinating when she's here on Chasing Sleep. 34 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 4: Thank you. 35 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,199 Speaker 1: Also, let's welcome Richard Louve. 36 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 2: He has away with words and a reverence for nature. 37 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 2: He's a journalist and an author of several books that 38 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: have inspired people around the world to reconnect with nature. 39 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: Welcome to Chasing Sleep. 40 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 5: Thank you. 41 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 3: We love the title of your book, Last Child in 42 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 3: the Woods, Saving our children from nature deficit disorder. 43 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: Can you just explain what is nature deficit disorder. 44 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 5: It's not a known medical diagnosis. Maybe it should be, 45 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 5: but it's a way to look at the disengagement of 46 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 5: children and adults because children happen to grow up from 47 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:27,679 Speaker 5: the natural world. That's happened really very quickly, particularly in 48 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 5: the last few decades. There's some particular reasons, and it's 49 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 5: not so much a measure of illness as it is 50 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 5: a way to talk about what happens when you take 51 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 5: the good stuff of nature away from kids and the 52 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:40,079 Speaker 5: rest of us. 53 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 2: Is there an effect of nature deficit disorder on sleep? 54 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 5: Doctor Woom probably knows more about that than I do. 55 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:53,760 Speaker 5: There's at least a couple studies that suggests that, particularly 56 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 5: for men at over sixty five, which would include me, 57 00:02:56,639 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 5: that spending more time outside helps us sleep better. 58 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 3: Let's throw that over to you, Jade, I mean, does 59 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 3: it affect good sleep? 60 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,119 Speaker 1: You know? How are these two related? Oh? 61 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, I definitely think so. So. First of all, just 62 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 4: on a personal level, the time of my life when 63 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 4: I slept the best by far, was when I was 64 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 4: living in this Swiss organic farm and farming during the 65 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 4: day and sleeping in this cabin by night. And I 66 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 4: napped for about an hour every day and slept the 67 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 4: best sleep of my life for about eight and a 68 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 4: half hours at night every night. Part of it is 69 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 4: because I was doing hard labor during the day, and 70 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 4: part of it was because it was the freshest air, 71 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 4: it was the best sunlight during the day. The freshest 72 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 4: food I ever ate. Just being close to animals and 73 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 4: being close to plants, and just going with the rhythm 74 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 4: of the mountains around me. It was just magical. So absolutely, 75 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 4: I strongly believe there's a correlation between being close to 76 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 4: nature and sleeping well. And there's actually a couple of 77 00:03:55,920 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 4: good scientific reasons for that. One is, we are diurnal animals. 78 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 4: We really really need sunlight during the day and darkness 79 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 4: at night for our circadian rhythms to function well. So 80 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 4: if you get lots of sunlight during the day and 81 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:14,120 Speaker 4: not too much light at night, then your circadian rhythms 82 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 4: are very happy. And when they're happy, they make you 83 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 4: sleep well at night and wake well during the day. 84 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 5: But I have to add I don't sleep well. I 85 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 5: need to spend more time outside. And just because you're 86 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 5: I live in a very natural area. There are mountain 87 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 5: lions in our yard. But this morning I woke up 88 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 5: because a woodpecker was banging outside of the house. 89 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 3: So in that case, nature is not necessarily helping you 90 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 3: sleep better when the woodpecker is pecking on the. 91 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: Side of your house. 92 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 2: Rich and doctor WU like, is there something about feeling 93 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:51,400 Speaker 2: connected to nature? Feeling connected to other species, how does 94 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 2: that help us sleep better well? 95 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 4: In addition to being diurnal animals, we're also pack animals, right, 96 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 4: So a big part of sleeping well at night is 97 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 4: also just feeling connected and feeling safe during the day. 98 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 4: So if we have our social interactions with other people, 99 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 4: and if we feel connected to the people and animals 100 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 4: and nature around us, then we feel much more safe 101 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 4: and calm. 102 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 5: There's a great conversation going on all around us. In 103 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 5: recent years, the more research that's been done on how 104 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 5: animals and trees communicate, sometimes between each other in the 105 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:31,600 Speaker 5: same species, sometimes across species, including with us. When we 106 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 5: pay attention to that, we feel less alone and we 107 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 5: feel calmed rich. 108 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 2: You suggested something called green exercise. What does that look like. 109 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 5: Well, some of the studies have shown that when people 110 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 5: do the same exercise and in fact burn exactly the 111 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 5: same number of calories in an indoor gym, for instance, 112 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 5: on a treadmill, compared when they expend or burn the 113 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:02,160 Speaker 5: exact same number of calories they do it outside gardening 114 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 5: or hiking or something like that, there's a significant difference. 115 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 5: It's improvement in terms of well being and a number 116 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 5: of other indicators. So some people call it green exercise 117 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,159 Speaker 5: and actually market it that way that there are green 118 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 5: exercise groups, particularly in Europe. It's something that I think 119 00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 5: is caught on to a degree in the US. 120 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: Really cool. 121 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 4: I've heard of forest bathing, which is like a Japanese concept. 122 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,799 Speaker 4: Is that similar to what you're talking about. 123 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 5: Well, that's a form of therapy in a sense. 124 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 2: Can I ask what exactly is forest bathing? 125 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 4: I think the Japanese name is shinin yoku. That's it, 126 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 4: And I think it just literally means bathing in the forest, 127 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:46,919 Speaker 4: and it doesn't have to be very complicated. You just 128 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:50,880 Speaker 4: go into a forest and allow the trees to surround you. 129 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:54,360 Speaker 4: You experience the feeling of the soil under your feet 130 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 4: as you're walking, the breeze on your face, and you 131 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 4: hear the sounds of the forest. It gives us such 132 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 4: rich material to really experience with our five senses, and 133 00:07:06,360 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 4: that really slows down our heart rate. It decreases our 134 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 4: blood pressures, our cortisol level goes down. The whole sympathetic 135 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 4: nervous system, which is the fight or flight system, calms 136 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 4: down a little bit. It's like you're telling your body 137 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 4: that you're safe, that it's okay to let your guard down. 138 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:24,360 Speaker 5: There are a couple of reasons the way that's good. 139 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 5: One is all the reasons that makes sleep better when 140 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 5: they're in nature, but also because people bring their souls 141 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 5: to nature in ways they don't usually. Our relationship with 142 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 5: trees works on two levels. One is that some of 143 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 5: the chemicals released by trees actually are calming to us. 144 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: Oh wow. 145 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 5: But the other reason is that people act different when 146 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 5: they're around trees, and so force bathing. You go out 147 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 5: there with a group and you have a therapist, you 148 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 5: and we were asked to go out and pick a tree, 149 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 5: any tree. And I know this sounds like tree hugging, 150 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 5: which is highly underrated. But pick a tree and spend 151 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 5: some time with it, and then come back to the group, 152 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 5: sit in a circle, and why did you learn? What 153 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 5: did you feel in the tree? 154 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: I want to do that immediately, Adam. I mean, it 155 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 2: could really help us feel connected to nature and improve 156 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:25,360 Speaker 2: our sleep too. But for those of us who live 157 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 2: in places like Los Angeles, it's not that easy to 158 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: go forest bathing every day. I mean, Am I right? 159 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:33,199 Speaker 4: Yeah, it would be ideal if you could get out 160 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,280 Speaker 4: to nature every once in a while. You know, like say, 161 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 4: on weekends if you can go hiking. But I think 162 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 4: there are ways to maybe focus on the quality rather 163 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 4: than the quantity as well, like even if you have 164 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 4: a house plant, spending some time with your plants, with 165 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 4: the little bits of nature that you do have, and 166 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 4: being really mindful, being in the moment and allowing your 167 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 4: senses to really experience whatever little bit of nature there is. 168 00:08:57,559 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 4: And then maybe on a more logistical level, you know, 169 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 4: have black house curtains at night to keep out the 170 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 4: traffic lights and whatnot, and throw your windows wide open 171 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 4: during the day for that sunshine and fresh air. If 172 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,440 Speaker 4: you can bring as much of the rhythms of nature 173 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 4: to your home as possible. 174 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 3: You know, I always wonder like, is it possible to 175 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 3: use technology to replace nature in our homes? You know, 176 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 3: like we'll do a little like bird sounds or ocean sounds. 177 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,440 Speaker 3: Can we trick our body in a way into feeling 178 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:33,079 Speaker 3: like that we're really in nature even though it's a 179 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 3: computer generated sound. 180 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 5: There is some evidence that technological substitutions can work a 181 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 5: little bit like watching nature videos, but there's a limit 182 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 5: to that. Better approach really is the town that I 183 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:50,719 Speaker 5: live in, Julia and California is a dark sky community. 184 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:54,960 Speaker 5: There's an organized effort around the country to commit to 185 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,520 Speaker 5: certain kinds of bulbs and turning off lights at night 186 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 5: out side. Oh wow, my son came and visited and 187 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 5: looked up at the sky and said it was the 188 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 5: first time he could smell the stars. I mean, it 189 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 5: was that vivid to him. But also within cities, conservation 190 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 5: is no longer enough. Now we need to create nature. 191 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 5: As strange as that sounds, and there are a lot 192 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:23,200 Speaker 5: of efforts around the world to change cities to have 193 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 5: many more trees, not only for carbon sequestration, but for 194 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:31,439 Speaker 5: the kinds of things we're talking about, the health benefits 195 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 5: of that connection of nature. We can find nature in cities. 196 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: So how do we create nature inside the rooms we 197 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 2: sleep in. 198 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 5: There's something called biophilic design and biophilic architecture. It's based 199 00:10:46,360 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 5: on the biophilia hypothesis of EO. Wilson at Harvard, which 200 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 5: holds that we are hardwired genetically for an affiliation with nature, 201 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 5: and when we don't get enough of it, we don't 202 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 5: do so well. Biophilic architecture actually brings plants into the workplace. 203 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 5: For example, can be your home or school, as well 204 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:11,160 Speaker 5: your plants climbing inside walls or outside walls, outside the windows. 205 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 5: And what the biophilic architecture is revealing in the research 206 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 5: is that people who work in biophilically designed workplaces are 207 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 5: far more productive. Sick time goes down, turnover gets better, 208 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 5: everything gets better. 209 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: That's fascinating, doctor Wu. 210 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 2: How do you bring nature into your bedrooms? You have 211 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 2: suggestions and advice. 212 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 4: Sure, so, I'm very lucky to live in a pretty 213 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 4: green neighborhood. We all have big trees in our yards 214 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 4: and whatnot, and it's pretty quiet at night, so I 215 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 4: open the windows and I let the night sounds and 216 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 4: the fresh air come in. And in fact, I personally 217 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 4: feel a huge difference when the windows are open versus not. 218 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 4: So there are seasons of the year when I sleep 219 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 4: worse or better depending on whether the weather allows me 220 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 4: to open the windows, and I make my room very 221 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 4: very dark, I blackout curtains. Yeah, those are sort of 222 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 4: my main ways of doing it. If I had more 223 00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 4: where withal and I didn't have a one year old 224 00:12:11,880 --> 00:12:14,079 Speaker 4: and three year old, I definitely have a lot more 225 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 4: plans as well, But for now that's what we've got. 226 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 3: This is a fascinating discussion and we are not done 227 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:27,480 Speaker 3: more to come. Welcome back to Chasing Sleep. We are 228 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 3: learning about nature's connection to sleep with author and journalist 229 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:35,360 Speaker 3: Richard Louve and sleep specialist doctor Jade Wu. You know, 230 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 3: we're talking about getting close to nature, but nature around 231 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 3: us is changing drastically with climate change. How is that 232 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 3: affecting the way that we sleep? 233 00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 4: This is something that my colleagues and I in the 234 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 4: sleep community are very concerned about. There's the obvious one, 235 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 4: which is that when temperatures get hotter, it's harder to sleep. 236 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 4: Our bodies do need to cool down during the night 237 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 4: in order to sleep well, so your body temperature stays higher. 238 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 4: That's the obvious one. But then there are also less 239 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:13,040 Speaker 4: obvious ones, like the stress from mass migration events and 240 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:17,080 Speaker 4: people losing their homes to extreme weather events, and people 241 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:21,360 Speaker 4: losing their jobs and their lives being upended from you know, 242 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 4: the economic and social disruptions from climate change, and of 243 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 4: course the nature that is destroyed and the human communities 244 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 4: that are destroyed by climate change just adds every layer 245 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:37,080 Speaker 4: of stress possible to body, mind, spirit, emotional well being. 246 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 4: So yeah, we are actually quite concerned about climate change. 247 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 4: And what it will do to every aspect of health, 248 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:44,959 Speaker 4: but sleep in particular. 249 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 3: Yikes, who stands to you know, have their sleep most 250 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:51,080 Speaker 3: disrupted by climate change? 251 00:13:51,360 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 4: We already have plenty of studies showing that the amount 252 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 4: of green space in a neighborhood is directly correlated to 253 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 4: how many hours people sleep, Like they did studies with 254 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:03,640 Speaker 4: satellite imagery to count up what percentage of the neighborhood 255 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 4: is green, and that directly relates to how many hours 256 00:14:07,679 --> 00:14:11,079 Speaker 4: people are sleeping and how often people having sleep problems. 257 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 4: You know, it's things like walkability of your neighborhood. So yeah, 258 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 4: it's the people who have less control over their environment. 259 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 4: So folks who are lower income, who are in less 260 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 4: affluent areas older people. Yeah, it's the people who are 261 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 4: least privileged who will be most affected. 262 00:14:29,800 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 3: Are these the things rich that bring on the solestalgia? 263 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 2: Did I do it? 264 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:37,240 Speaker 4: Rich? 265 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:41,960 Speaker 5: Solistalgia is a term that was created by an eco 266 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 5: philosopher in Australia and Glenn albrit And basically, when you 267 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 5: feel solistalgic, you are feeling a kind of intense homesickness 268 00:14:55,080 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 5: for the home around you. The nature is being destroyed. 269 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 5: It's not for the past. It's for the present that 270 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:08,840 Speaker 5: is changing so quickly and the loss of nature. I 271 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 5: think a lot of us suffer from that. One of 272 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 5: the reasons also psychologically, and this is connected to climate 273 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:21,080 Speaker 5: change and biodiversity collapse, which go together, is the fact 274 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 5: of the growing amount of eco anxiety. It's called different 275 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 5: things ecological depression. But it's no accident that as the 276 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 5: pandemic began to ease, the trailheads were packed with people. 277 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 6: Yes, the parks were overwhelmed, some of them by the 278 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 6: number of people that were Yes, finally rediscovering nature. Folks 279 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 6: are really worried about that, and the healthcare profession, as 280 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 6: Jade said, in communities that have a lot less than 281 00:15:50,280 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 6: nature that taking nature away from people is a life 282 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 6: and death issue. 283 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 2: And doctor Wu, do you have any thoughts on how 284 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:06,400 Speaker 2: this sort of eco depression that is probably collectively happening, 285 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 2: how that's affecting our sleep, how we can try to 286 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 2: combat it. 287 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's definitely related to sleep. I think often people 288 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 4: may not consciously realize that when they're having insomnia or 289 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 4: having difficulty sleeping that it's related to this. They just say, oh, 290 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 4: I just can't shut off my mind, or I just 291 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,800 Speaker 4: can't relax. Just something's bothering me, and I can't really 292 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,280 Speaker 4: put my finger on it. And I think there is 293 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 4: some longing for connection or simplicity or just I always 294 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 4: start with mindfulness of just take what you do have 295 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 4: in terms of nature and connect with that. 296 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: Yes, clearing the mind is. 297 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 2: What it's all about, all right, Adam and I want 298 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 2: to share a little experiment we've been conducting. We have 299 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 2: a new alarm clock that projects light during the day 300 00:16:57,560 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 2: and at night. It is dark. 301 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 3: Blue light, and the color of the light changes and 302 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,920 Speaker 3: it kind of gives us a wouldn't you say, Katie, 303 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:08,080 Speaker 3: It's like a sped up sunset. 304 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 2: What I think about it is that at least in 305 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,239 Speaker 2: the midst of this Los Angeles concrete jungle that we 306 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:16,840 Speaker 2: live in, we've been experimenting with this alarm clock and 307 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:18,959 Speaker 2: I like it. I really do. 308 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 1: He love it. 309 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 4: Yeah. So, there's research showing that having light in the mornings, 310 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 4: even when you're still sleeping your eyes are closed, about 311 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,880 Speaker 4: ten percent of the light goes through your eyelids. So 312 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 4: if you have a light that's kind of gradually getting 313 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 4: brighter and brighter, some of that light is going through 314 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 4: to your brain. And giving it sort of a gentle 315 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 4: forewarning like okay, adam, it might be time to get 316 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:45,639 Speaker 4: up soon, and you know, you get a bit of 317 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 4: a warning and your brain likes that, right. And also 318 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 4: as a night owl, the best way to shift your 319 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 4: circadian phase, as in, you know, make yourself more of 320 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 4: a morning person, is to have bright light first thing 321 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 4: in the morning. And so if you're starting that even 322 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 4: before you open your eyes, that can actually make your 323 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 4: sleep inertia a little bit better. And sleep inertia is 324 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 4: that draggy feeling that like the half hour an hour 325 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 4: that it takes for you to fully wake up, like 326 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,639 Speaker 4: you're sledging through mud. That gets better if you have 327 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,120 Speaker 4: that light wake you up. 328 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:18,520 Speaker 1: That's great to know. 329 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 2: Rich thoughts about such clock, these clocks that are being 330 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 2: offered these days that have birds and ocean sounds and 331 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 2: a light that goes like a sunset at night down 332 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:34,680 Speaker 2: to blue and can put on a sort of sunrise. 333 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,679 Speaker 2: What are your opinions on such clock? 334 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 5: If it works, it's great, And that sounds like it 335 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 5: works for you. I have a woodpecker I can loan 336 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 5: you too for waking up, you know, during the pandemic, 337 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,919 Speaker 5: And I wrote a piece for the like times about this. 338 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 5: People started looking out their windows when they were in seclusion, 339 00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 5: and they were noticing that there were birds out there. 340 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,159 Speaker 5: Now they knew they were out there already, but they 341 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 5: didn't really know. And they started connecting with those birds, 342 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 5: their kids did, and they did not feel so alone. 343 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 5: They felt a sense of solace and connection. And that 344 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 5: has to do with this the loneliness epidemic. The medical 345 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 5: community is really quite worried about loneliness as a source 346 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 5: of disease. It turns out many of the same diseases 347 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:32,880 Speaker 5: that are associated with obesity and with smoking happened when 348 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 5: people are extremely lonely, when they're very isolated. And many 349 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 5: of the reasons that are given for this happen to 350 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 5: be exactly the same ones that keep kids indoors too much, electronics, 351 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:48,719 Speaker 5: cities that are designed for cars, not for nature for people, 352 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 5: and the list goes on. I would add another factor 353 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 5: to that list of causes for the extreme epidemic and 354 00:19:56,880 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 5: human isolation all over the world, particularly in in countries 355 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:04,680 Speaker 5: like ours, which is species loneliness. I think that deep 356 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 5: within this is a deep desire to not feel alone 357 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 5: in the universe. 358 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: Wow beautifully said in terms. 359 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 5: Of climate change and the eco anxiety which keeps a 360 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:17,320 Speaker 5: lot of people away. We need something that I call 361 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 5: imaginative hope. I think we need to begin to imagine 362 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 5: what would it be like to have a nature rich 363 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 5: home that would help us leave better. I just wanted 364 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 5: to add that there's a lot of good news. In 365 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 5: twenty ten, I was asked to give thee to the 366 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 5: American Academy of Pediatrics, about five thousand pediatricians their annual meeting. 367 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 5: And at first I thought, why me, nature deficit disorder. Really, 368 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 5: it's not even a known medical diagnosis. And I was 369 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:48,200 Speaker 5: nervous before I went up to San Francisco to give this, 370 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:51,520 Speaker 5: and my wife, who is a nurse practitioner, took my 371 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,960 Speaker 5: face in her hands. They said, listen to me, Rich, 372 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,120 Speaker 5: pediatricians are different from other doctors. They're really nice people. 373 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 5: Oh except for doctors like Jade. And so I led 374 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:09,200 Speaker 5: with that line and I was off to a good 375 00:21:09,200 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 5: start with the pediatricians. I suggested, how about if you guys, 376 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 5: men and women begin to prescribe nature, literally write prescriptions. 377 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,800 Speaker 5: There was a little of that going on already, and 378 00:21:22,840 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 5: they went back, many of them and started doing that. 379 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 5: There's a guy named doctor Robert Tzar from Washington, d C. 380 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 5: Who went back. He literally started writing prescriptions to his 381 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:36,880 Speaker 5: families for spending time on the side of nature. Then 382 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,840 Speaker 5: he's got the other pediatricians in DC to do it, 383 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 5: and then they took the next step. They created a 384 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 5: database of all the parks and open spaces in d C. 385 00:21:45,119 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 5: So the doc could not only write the prescription literally, 386 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:51,199 Speaker 5: but could turn to the computer and say, there's a 387 00:21:51,240 --> 00:21:53,280 Speaker 5: park a block and a half from your house. Here's 388 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 5: what you can do there. I was puzzled by that. 389 00:21:56,240 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 5: Why that happened with the pediatricians, and it was later 390 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 5: explained to me that pediatricians are so deeply frustrated. They 391 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:09,000 Speaker 5: see mortalities every day, morbidities every day among children that 392 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:12,600 Speaker 5: they can't deal with. Not only that, but every day 393 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 5: they write prescriptions to pharmaceuticals. So they already have a 394 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 5: sense that somehow we're missing the boat in so many ways, 395 00:22:20,720 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 5: and they're frustrated, so they took to this. 396 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:23,840 Speaker 2: That's amazing. 397 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 5: So there's lots of things happening. 398 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:30,359 Speaker 4: Yeah, collectively, I think we could probably use some of 399 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 4: that imaginative hope to help us to sleep more peacefully. 400 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:34,440 Speaker 4: At night. 401 00:22:34,680 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 1: Well, that is very hopeful. 402 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 3: I appreciate that as a parent and as the host 403 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 3: of Chasing Sleep. 404 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:43,800 Speaker 2: Thank you, doctor Wu and Rich so much. 405 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 5: Thank you, thank you. 406 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 2: What a beautiful way. Let me just say to end 407 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:53,440 Speaker 2: the season, this. 408 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,080 Speaker 1: One might have caused the most changed to our lives. 409 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 2: I feel it if we connect with nature and we 410 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:01,800 Speaker 2: connect with each other, we are going to sleep better. 411 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 1: It's that simple. 412 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 2: I'm so grateful because I think so much of the 413 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 2: information in today's episode and all the episodes are really 414 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 2: life changing in ways that are doable. 415 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:15,400 Speaker 1: I would agree with that. 416 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 3: This has been such a gift, and I want to 417 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 3: thank everybody that is listening for connecting with us on 418 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:22,399 Speaker 3: season two of Chasing Sleep. 419 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 2: I think every episode we learn so many practical, life 420 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 2: changing things to better our individual lives, our family's life, and. 421 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: Our marriage and our sleep. 422 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:34,320 Speaker 2: Like, is everyone vibing this? 423 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:35,320 Speaker 1: Uh, We're vibing. 424 00:23:35,359 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 3: And if you liked this episode and you missed a 425 00:23:37,520 --> 00:23:39,720 Speaker 3: few of the others, feel free to binge listen. 426 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 1: We will not judge. Plus, we want to hear from you. 427 00:23:42,520 --> 00:23:45,520 Speaker 3: Yes, go to your podcast player of choice and rate 428 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 3: and review the show and tell us what you think. 429 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 1: Katie tell them your social. 430 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 2: My social is kt Q. Low's on the Gram. 431 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I'm on the Gram too. I'm much shabby Shaps. 432 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,880 Speaker 3: Don't forget to follow or subscribe for future episodes. 433 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: Until next time. 434 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,640 Speaker 3: I hope you're living your best while sleeping your best. 435 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 2: Chasing Sleep is a production of Ruby Studios from iHeartMedia 436 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:13,200 Speaker 2: in partnership with Mattress Firm. Our executive producer is Molly Sosha. 437 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 3: This show was written and produced by Sound That Brands 438 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,400 Speaker 3: Dave Beeson, Jason Jackson, and Michelle Rice. 439 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:23,480 Speaker 2: Chasing Sleep is hosted by Katie Lows and Adam Shapiro. 440 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 2: That's Us. Thank you to our partners at Mattress Firm.