Why Sleep Matters | Matthew Walker | Talks at Google

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of our life, health and longevity and yet it is increasingly neglected in twenty-first-century society, with devastating consequences: every major disease in the developed world - Alzheimer's, cancer, obesity, diabetes - has very strong causal links to deficient sleep.
Until very recently, science had no answer to the question of why we sleep, or what good it served, or why its absence is so damaging to our health. Compared to the other basic drives in life - eating, drinking, and reproducing - the purpose of sleep remained elusive.
Professor Matthew Walker discusses with Matt Brittin twenty years of cutting-edge research to solve the mystery of why sleep matters, how caffeine and alcohol affect sleep and why our sleep patterns change across a lifetime -- this is a talk that will change how you think about bedtime!
Moderated by Matt Brittin.

[@helicart]

I've been in neuroscience research for 30 years, and this guy is actually very up to date and broad in his understanding of sleep, stress, and neurophysiology. Kudos to him.

[@ennisdelmar807]

Damn poor you fella, 30 years in a reseach study, hope it's over soon so you can rest. //best whishes

[@helicart]

@@ennisdelmar807 More zeaxanthin and lutein for you.

[@helicart]

@@DataDevs haven't read his book, but from this vid, he is the real deal.

[@Phanta.T]

Good to know that you can vouch for what he says. Can I ask, what exactly was it that let you recognize that he know what he's talking about in this talk? Or have you looked at his other stuff?

[@VarunPratapSingh22]

Sir i sleep at night for 4 to 5 hour then in afternoon for 2 hours .. is it ok???

[@bl8319555]

My sister diagnosed with early onset Dementia. I truly believe she got it was because she has never been a good sleeper. She has always tried to live on less than 4 hours of sleep. Everyone says that driving while drowsy is more dangerous than driving while intoxicated. Your body--more importantly-your brain is healed while you sleep. Not enough sleep is really, really dangerous.

[@jonwhite6894]

This guy’s book is incredible, I implore anyone who’s watching this to read it!

[@dolganthecute]

Interesting thing was that when Matt asked if people currently got young children, I saw 6 people(when pausing) raised their hand, he surmised that to be quite a lot. One aspect, though maybe minor, surround decreasing child births are related to this. Most of them seemed like they were at an age where people normally had children.

[@sleepsmartsmashstress740]

How much have diet books helped people get slim, Obesity is on the rise. Books almost never help. They help only those who know the stuff and are practicing those things and actually dont need the books. The sales of books are driven by those who just buy and shelf the books and never read and even if they do read NO ONE actually follows the advice. People dont succeed with changes more than 2-3% of the times . Books and TED talks etc. never change behaviours

[@Parishboys]

@@sleepsmartsmashstress740 Your comment is total bull by-product, with respect sir. There are many people who change their behaviour after reading books or watching Ted talks. I personally know several people! You should NEVER say NEVER!!!

[@absolutetuber]

@@sleepsmartsmashstress740 people don’t change because they have your attitude: a bad one. Someone giving an informational talk or writing a book will have zero impact on someone not ready, or willing, to change. But for those that are willing and ready it can completely turn their life around. Does that mean they shouldn’t write books or give TED talk since many people won’t change? Heck no!

[@sleepsmartsmashstress740]

@@absolutetuber Most authors giving an informational talk or writing a book will have zero impact on public policy or habit. They will not read it no willing to change. It take work and pains taking. Those who are willing have completed the changing and don’t need lectures. Most author should stop writing books or give TED talk as many people won’t change. Yes. There are libraries full of books. Time has come to hold hands of people and take them out for walk or drag them to bed and “put them to sleep” with blanket pulled over. Joking aside, what we need is a greater human interaction, Information alone is wasted effort. People know it, but cannot get time to sleep for example when you need to hold 2 jobs to pay the bills where is the time for sleep. Lecture all you want the man cannot afford more than 5 hours rest.

[@ConnorCordell]

This is perhaps one of the most important talks at Google yet. Until you get sleep right, nothing else is going to work as well as it could. Thank you for being a true sleep representative Matthew Walker.

[@susydyson1750]

sleep and adequate food intake .. watching time

[@JasTheKariol]

Most of these were said already by Shawn Stevenson in Google back in 2016.

[@cmhardin37]

@@JasTheKariol probably true

[@afifahrimadani2256]

​@@JasTheKariol 🥲2hwajwj3jjjjuijj3iiiiol5j13q3n3jjj3jiqo3o2i3iooqk⁸😒82e32bb

[@jingbowang7634]

He was my professor and loved all his lectures! I read this book (Why we sleep) twice, and I have never read a science book twice!

[@GeorgeLista]

I experienced sleep at the wheel when I thought I was perfectly fine... I had never had an accident before in my life and I love driving, have driven cross borders for days.... this was just a 1 hour or so drive after work, I was more in shock that I actually fell asleep than the actual accident because my brain recreated the visual of driving... it was like I had a small dream of the reality of driving... the vibrations of the front of the car grinding into the central reservation + pure luck is what saved my life. I will never allow myself to even get to yawning stage. Stay safe people.

[@jayflood2014]

The way he presents a concept reminds me of the physicist Richard Feynman. Mr Walker could explain sleep to a child and make it interesting and digestible. I'm kind of hooked!

[@staceyharvey6329]

20 minutes - We don’t look at babies sleep patterns and say “Psst, what a lazy baby?!” Lol. Excellent point. Mr Walker & his book may have saved or extended my life. Thank you

[@ryutenmen]

And especially more in the case of adult life when we have much bigger bodies who consume energy and also work all day back-to-back its necessary to sleep much(enough) and even some naps.

[@susydyson1750]

yeah that cracked me up laughing !

[@wendychoo9418]

@@ryutenmen ýýþqźsŕ+

[@TheJeanette53]

As I get older I find I don’t sleep much. I’ve tried various things to get to sleep, or to get back to sleep when I wake up after an hour or two. What works surprises me more than anyone else. Eg watching videos on KZbin, having a cup of coffee, having something to eat, reading, etc. with me everything seems to work backwards. I’ve just decided to not worry about it.

[@TT-cj3ek]

I can relate .

[@mskatefish]

Incredible interview! Thank you!

[@heychelseab]

This was so informative - thank you! I especially found the bit about REM sleep disorder interesting as my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's a few years ago. Definitely showing this to him. Thanks!

[@mohammedismailkhalid4395]

Very brief and I can't highly recommend this book enough, to every human being.

[@NWinnVR]

He was also on Joe Rogan's podcast, a lot of the talking points are the same but there are some novel and he goes into more depth on others.

[@willieward8457]

I like joe he should run in the next election. I will vote for him.

[@BoysLikeMeee]

@@willieward8457 Ha! Rogan is fun. Let's vote for Ron DeSantis though! 👍

[@davidgeller6014]

Qà~1

[@viktorberczeli3009]

One of the best scientific talk I've ever heard. I know the first thing I need to fix in my life.

[@jlizano20]

Amazing! Eye opening information, very valuable. Thank you for posting!

[@9999classy]

Again Prof walker, does not stop to amaze me with his k owl edge and research , I can relate to a lot God Bless 🥰

[@samuelmatheis]

such an important issue! great talk

[@rosschambers1987]

42:30 touché, very amusing. Amazing interview. Listening to the audiobook at the moment. Hadn't realised quite how important sleep was. Amazing.

[@jagannathshenoy9940]

Thank you very much Matthew for wonderful insight on "Sleep"; why do we need goodnight sleep, and the consequences of deprived sleeps, how to cultivate the habit of sleeping on right time, preparedness before going to bed, the impact of alcoholic and caffeine on deep sleeps, model of prevention rather than curation, medication for snoring diseases, all these criteria of sleep has been explained well. I strongly recommend people to buy book " why we sleep", and understand the importance and essential to have good and deep sleep. Good night..Sleep well, have 8 hours sleep, dream well and never deprive from sleep, it's free Gift and you need not pay, but lack of sleep will result in incurring payment for medical assistance. ... Stop sleeping more on weekend...

[@wilzaidan]

One more issue that came with modernity. Nothing against it but it's great to have scientist like him to bring us back to our nature. Love the book and the talk.

[@flourishwithMJ]

Thank you so much. Great talk, Dr. Matt

[@UNPRECEDENTEDPICTURES]

Most informative. Thank you!

[@richcampus]

"SEDATION IS NOT SLEEP!" @27:50

[@samantha-kemp-therapy]

I love this book and this is a good accompaniment to it

[@ishmaeldimagiba4203]

I almost ran into a vehicular accident due to lack of sleep. I was a riding a motorcycle and I was very sleepy. I thought that I momentarily closed my eyes but in reality, I fell asleep. Luckily for me, I ran into a pothole and was awakened. When I opened my eyes, I was already on the opposite lane in front of a car with the driver angrily honking his horn at me. I never drove when I'm sleepy since then.

[@rajcan2008]

It’s 9 pm, time to sleep. I will see rest 45 min. video tomorrow.

[@antdude]

It's 1:09 AM. I should be asleep instead of watching this video. :P

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

he suggests screen off for an hour before bed...

[@BoysLikeMeee]

@@jimsbooksreadingandstuff Very important! Bright light and or sunshine in the early morning when you wake. And darkness in the early evening to prepare the body/mind/brain to sleep. Take melatonin 1 or 2 hrs before you want to sleep and dim the lights, avoid screens then. Good night! 😴

[@hon747]

Absolutely informative and entertaining. Thanks

[@DanyIsDeadChannel313]

What a beautiful view

[@sylviarossi3500]

Wonderful interview, great insight into the importance of sleep.

[@danielleboyd3070]

Superb content. Great audio. Thank you.

[@DrLewsyorkies]

Good information- in line with my research.

[@paulylah]

Pretty much a perfect executive summary of the entire book tbh

[@aparnaamkulkarnii5130]

This is absolutely profound

[@allisondeng5704]

I just wanted to let you know that my mom repetitively recommended this to me like it was the best thing she ever listened to. You are very persuasive!

[@PeterKoperdan]

I imagine your mum is worried you don't get enough sleep :-D People engage in so many things to improve their health, yet most ignore the importance of sleep. Given that sleep is possibly the most important overall health factor, it's a sad state of affairs.

[@saulefinance]

he's so nice and sweet, also the answers he gives are so accurate and wholesome

[@sleepsmartsmashstress740]

How do you know the answers are correct and accurate. Are you not being biased by his style and looks etc.?

[@czechraiser]

@@sleepsmartsmashstress740 you just love to put this author and book down, don't you? What he is saying is both logically consistent, lines up well with the latest in neuroscience research, and fits with my own personal experience. What counter examples do you offer?

[@vinnyshoreman]

brilliant information thank you Mathew

[@P.Gillett]

I first heard of the book here, and I'm glad I did. Since I've bought it I have completely changed my sleeping habits and I have already felt the many benefits described in the book. Read this book. It should be required reading for every high school aged student.

[@prepperjonpnw6482]

Does it basically say you need 8 hours of sleep? Or is there more to it?

[@rory644]

@@prepperjonpnw6482 Way more too it than that, you won't regret buying it.

[@P.Gillett]

@@prepperjonpnw6482 exactly! it is just pages and pages of 'get eight hours of sleep', just written in different interesting ways.

[@bingratnapala6350]

What an incredible talk!

[@tabishfaraazchaudhary2971]

Awesome video, really benefincial, hv been reading the book for 2 weeks nw, but this video summed it up

[@finderkeeper836]

Fascinating!

[@dr.alexchang]

Great talk and I look forward to read Dr. Walker's book. As for using sleep metrics to predict health, this is an interesting model on so many levels and I really hope it'll work out.

[@barryminor616]

Yes

[@johnhancock5542]

What an super excellent chat video. This should be a compulsory part of education... John Hancock

[@FlatStella1]

thank you. that would explain a lot.

[@andrewhostynski7701]

Excellent presentation by an eloquent and charismatic professional.

[@valeriazlochevska6727]

Thanks for interesting and useful information

[@DrLewsyorkies]

Frankly, I live by all the things he has mentioned and the reality is-he is right.

[@HBAY82]

Thank you all so much for this illuminating video

[@Vesemir668]

I find the bit about late chronotypes interesting - if people, who are naturally late sleepers, are not "insomniacs", how can they balance a good night's sleep with the need to go to school/work at 8/9 AM? It's a bit of a shame that there wasn't a follow up question about it.

[@bdoobwah]

google DSPD and/or DSPS

[@seankennedy4284]

09:34 _'Wakefulness is low-level brain damage.'_ Sounds about right.

[@nurimatsh3012]

this guy is incredible great content

[@javiergimenezmoya]

To Know what a important thing is sleep make me more nervous and anxious about the duty with respect my health for do not fail my rest and therefore made me sleep worse

[@scottfranson4215]

This presenter's talk should be used as reference material for those who are looking to train people in the fine art of public speaking

[@scottfranson4215]

448,168 views • Jul 12, 2019 • Sleep is one

[@liyuling1984]

brilliant

[@jaybird210]

The bit about micro sleep while at the wheel was very scary... that's why i have decided to make a change in my lifestyle and got a car that can automatically hold the lane for me. now i can sleep behind the wheel all i want! yay 🥳

[@cristinaprado8691]

Amazing!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙏🏼🙏🏼🙌🏻

[@fv4425]

This is an excellent time to view this video! Daylight saving time is coming to an alarm clock near you... very near...

[@j01150126]

People at my work pride themselves for attending global meetings at 2am. I actually had to turn down a 1am meeting and got a talking to from my boss because I am salary. This guy does a great job talking about sleep, I am pretty sure we were never supposed to work 40-50 hours a week then go home and work another 10hrs on the house during the weekends, we have been duped.

[@cfoster6804]

You are 100% correct. The 40 hour work week is such a scam...a harmful one.

[@boguniab]

This is absolutely fascinating interview!!:)))

[@srijanchattopadhyay7735]

Brilliant ...

[@damianlopez7630]

Sleep is Sacred. May Good GOD Bless You.

[@edwigcarol4888]

My experience is depending of what i have lived in the day, the amount of sleep i need as well as the quality of sleep (the different phases) can be very different. So what my mind experienced within the day is what my brain has to sleep on during the following night. May I generalize that it is the case for everybody..

[@ijasdeen3809]

Best Speaker of all time

[@iamkeithheart]

My only question is whether regular sleep patterns and proper sleep health can be achieved in an industrialized society that demands more from a person than they can give. Great talk! I’m definitely going to read up on this book he made.

[@playthora6515]

My question exactly

[@tomisaacson2762]

It's possible but it's hard, especially if you've built in bad habits

[@TT-cj3ek]

I am addicted to the internet at bedtime . I feel like I’m missing out if I can’t go down rabbit holes from 10 pm til 1 or 2 in the morning . My excuse is that I work from home and don’t have to get up til 8 am . But I know this is a bad habit and to much chaos for my nervous system that late at night . Can anyone else relate ?

[@Dabby724]

So much that it's scary

[@michaelinzo]

Why I'm having such really beautiful dreams and after waking up I feel so sad it ain't real...

[@kshilpa2611]

Great talk ! Really opened my eyes. Most of the times, I do sleep extremely well when I am traveling in a bus or train or in a car ( as a passenger), it is the most refreshing nap 😊 why is that ?

[@SharatS]

I've had the same experience, it's even better when it's raining. It just feels cozy. The cool thing is, you can find recreations of the sounds on KZbin now.

[@youssefzaki9142]

Excellent

[@zeezsleep415]

I love Matt Walker. He is a great advocate for sleep, with wonderful first sentences.. He is brilliant on the problems of sleep. On solutions, I want him to know about us. because I think we could transform sleep when our brains have forgotten how to sleep well.

[@GeorgeLista]

Curious about this 8hr sweet spot that doesn’t seem to chime with the understanding of circadian rhythm... fascinating subject I want to keep learning more about so I’m happy to read others opinions.

[@EvolvingNaturally]

Very Good!

[@hassamk4011t]

Out standing

[@dolganthecute]

Hopefully none of these people will be fired when listening to the advice given to the question at 46:45 and he omits the fact that society does not really have room for chrono types. This talk is mainly about managing the natural instincts we have surrounding sleep to fit our society. Mainly because there's little room for natural instincts when you are trying to fit a schedule and deadlines.

[@gipsi2001]

We are all chronotypes, the question is which one

[@tinag9910]

Love it

[@thomasstevenrothmbamd2384]

The medical industrial complex's failure to properly research and diagnose and treat microbiome and sleep and vital nutritional deficiency issues (including those related to Vitamin D3 and Vitamin K2 and Magnesium deficiencies as well as iatrogenic prescription medication usage) is a major reason why psychiatric iatrogenesis is a primary contributor to the third leading cause of death in the U.S. (which is iatrogenesis in general). If the U.S. spent just a fraction of the over $40 billion each year it spends just on iatrogenic psychiatric drugs alone, on properly researching the issues discussed in this and related KZbin presentations we would probably, Lord willing, achieve an absolute revolution in medical efficacy improvement and iatrogenesis reduction. Thomas Steven Roth, MBA, MD Christian Minister for Biblical Medical Ethics, and therefore, Scientific and Religious Refugee from the Clinical Practice of Psychiatric Standards of Care

[@comc35]

2:43 starting with the shocking facts, how great!

[@jalatkhan7499]

Very good

[@Arne_Boeses]

I won’t stop to annoy everyone I know to read his book! (Unless they want to sleep - for obvious reason)

[@DanyIsDeadChannel313]

The book is annoying as you.

[@prepperjonpnw6482]

L Daniel you found the book to be annoying? Why is that?

[@BambaZillah]

things this guy know god damn. the more you keep him talking, more new important things he says.

[@gabrielobrien8850]

I like David eaglammans theory he say we dream to stop other parts of d brain from taking over it makes lot of sense when u understand d brain

[@ANewEvilRising]

so the bit where he mentions that your brain paralysis you when you go into REM sleep, I and many others have encountered this and we see it in a negative way because we sometimes experience some type of hallucinations. it would be commonly referred to as sleep paralysis. Does the fact that you begin to dream in that same state where you become paralyzed have anything to do with those experiences/hallucinations?

[@melissadorfe6902]

7:43, 19:22 , 35:00 ,30:00, 39:43 ,42:00, 47:46, 49:49 ,54:56

[@TomHendricksMusea]

Suggestion that a key part of the need for sleep is the body's need to make serotonin, which it does in a symbiotic relationship with gut bacteria in the large intestine. We sleep to first produce serotonin, then to draw it into the body through the extraction of water in the large intestine. Though it can be synthesized, there seems to be a major difference in the health benefits from the micro made serotonin, and the artificially made serotonin. Here's some notes on both how important serotonin is and how widespread it is in all living things. Besides mammals, serotonin is found in all bilateral animals including worms and insects,[19] as well as in fungi and in plants.[20] Serotonin's presence in insect venoms and plant spines serves to cause pain, which is a side-effect of serotonin injection.[21][22] Serotonin is produced by pathogenic amoebae, and its effect in the human gut is diarrhea.[23] Its widespread presence in many seeds and fruits may serve to stimulate the digestive tract into expelling the seeds.[24] Gut bacteria manufacture about 95 percent of the body's supply of serotonin, which influences both mood and GI activity.

[@ki4npx]

Sir can you talk about people that may take an couple of aspirins....then drive sleep deprived..the effects of some drugs..

[@rayharrisson3218]

This guy is right! ( @ 91, take his advice before it is too late) !

[@preddy09]

Chuck Norris does sleep research now?

[@prepperjonpnw6482]

Chuck Norris doesn’t sleep Sleep does Chuck Norris lol Also Chuck Norris’s tears cure cancer To bad he never cries lol

[@jeremydoerksen5988]

He's probably puzzled by it, since he's never needed to do it

[@jaggar28]

lol Even before clicking this video I knew there would at least be one who is thinking the same as me.

[@hwb-zalpach]

discovered the guy yesterday, and slept till three in the afternoon today.

[@annechampion3369]

Hi Matthew- I really love your sessions and although I’ve been to sleep clinics and sleep specialists, I have learnt so much more from listening to you. I have a challenge for you ............... I am a chronic insomniac and have been since I was 12 years old ( boarding school ). I am now 59 and have battled with 2-3 hours of sleep each night when trying to doing it without sleeping pills. Without the pills has been unbearable as I feel sick from tiredness during the following day. I am presently working in China and and may give Traditional Chinese Medicine a go, however I am quietly pessimistic. Can you help!

[@michelledambra]

Anne Champion I had insomnia since preteens and now 52 sleeping the best ever. Balancing the body chemistry with diet, supplements, detoxing heavy metals and practicing all mentioned sleep hygiene in this video. Also, balancing sex hormones. It has taken a few years of commitment but so worth it.

[@PeterKoperdan]

Examples like yours always make me thing that human biology is so amazing. People are able to live their lives even on decades of terrible sleep or diet.

[@vikramrathore1309]

I can fall into deep sleep 4 hours after having a cup of INSTANT coffee. Starbucks coffee on the other hand or energy drinks would disturb my sleep.

[@elizabethkanna7671]

Matthew Walker's MasterClass is outstanding. If you care about your health and longevity, watch it!

[@crystyxn]

watching it as well, really good!

[@boonchainipon5392]

I have never slept well since I was 12 now I am 43. I always had bad dreams haunting me every night. I think it is anxiety. and it started to take its toll on me badly I felt as if i ahd alzimer I felt very bad waking up as if i didnit sleep at all So suffering

[@danielevessio8531]

The only time you pull an all nighter really is when you are lacking to properly cover all the material if you would go to sleep and only covered about 70% of the material properly it would be more beneficial to carry on and finish all the work to 100% and and take off roughly 40% from each question asked in the exam you would end up doing better because the chances of getting 0% for a question that would be asked in the 30% that you did not study for is very high, Ceteris Paribus.

[@larrswomback5823]

must be nice to get by with 9hrs of sleep a night. I sleep between 10-11 with at least an hour nap during the day or evening

[@xiujin2565]

What he said is actually very true. My apple watch tells me if I drink coffee in the morning at around 8 am, my heart rate will increase at the same night even when I am sleeping. I never realised this until I monitor my heart rate.

[@SvenAERTS]

Arent' the night shift settings on smartphones/laptops good enough?

[@christopherwedge7881]

I prefer the rule, "If the last thing you touch at night is your phone and not your partner, you are in trouble."

[@MrKhants2000]

is it ok to have sleep of 6 hours for night with an awake period of about one hour for prayers before sunrise and then again sleep of about one to two hours, making a total of 7 to 8 hours sleep? Will this routine have any adverse impact on future health?

[@Xenthorx]

Watching this at 2 am. Time for Bed !

[@rayc766]

What I wonder is why I feel more tired/sluggish in the morning after 8-9 hours sleep than after 5-6 hours (I tend to have a lot more energy in the morning after 5-6 hours sleep, which affects workouts for instance). I've been watching a lot of Matthew Walker videos to get a handle on this but he never talks about it.

[@united016]

I’ve heard him say regarding this that you may be chronically sleep deprived...you may need multiple days of 8-9hrs of sleep in a row to get back into full energy

[@An123Observer]

Additionally it also matters when you wake up in your sleep cycle. It's actually easier to have a complete sleep cycle and wake up, than have a sleep cycle, start another one, then have to wake up from deep sleep. That's why some nights if I have to get less than 3 hours it's sometimes easier just to say up. So yeah, I would suggest looking at your sleep cycle and carcadian rhythm Sleep is so important though, I really feel the difference after a few days of sleep deprivation. Also as a side note (this is more Chinese medicine stuff) but sometimes when we are well rested, we have more energy , but this energy shows up in unhealthy ways, like angst or something, so being depleted might feel better, but that's because as you get more energy we actually need to work through our issues for that energy to become balanced. Anyway, Peace

[@bakhytgul4457]

Maybe you are a lark, who needs to go to sleep at 9 pm, and wake up at 5 am having slept your full 8 h.

[@nadiaahmed8697]

Please put CC on your vedioe

[@barryminor616]

Sleep RECOVERY is more FUN than some explain in the advertisements ...alll profit is not equal Do GOOD EXAMPLES and sleep better to BEE our BEST,⚡💤🎶🌅🍯🥥💦🍉🌶️🥑🥕🍄🍵🥑🌺🍫🍑🍋🧄🥕😍😍😍🍒