A healthy sleep pattern is vital for our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When we consistently get enough high-quality sleep, we experience improved cognitive function, enhanced memory, and better concentration. It also supports a healthy immune system, promotes physical recovery, and helps regulate our hormones. Conversely, inadequate sleep can have profound effects on our mental health and weight management. Sleep deprivation can lead to increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. It affects our emotional regulation and can contribute to mood disorders. Additionally, inadequate sleep disrupts the hormones responsible for appetite regulation, often leading to increased cravings for unhealthy food and weight gain. Listen in to this episode as I talk with Funke Afolabi-Brown, MD, a triple board-certified sleep medicine physician, about the importance of sleep, common misconceptions of sleep, tips for getting optimized sleep, harnessing sleep as a superpower, and recognizing the immense potential that lies within a good night's rest.  We'll discuss things like optimizing sleep habits by establishing a consistent sleep schedule, why it's helpful to establish a bedtime routine that signals to your body that it's time to unwind, the different stages of sleep and their significance, how watching TV in bed and taking naps can impact sleep, and sleep aids like melatonin.Dr. Brown is a speaker, coach, educator, writer, and the founder of RestfulSleepMD, where she helps busy professionals and organizations prioritize sleep to achieve their optimal health and thrive and live to their fullest potential. As a physician in practice for over a decade and a mom of two who struggled with sleep issues, she fully understands the impact of sleep deprivation on our mental, physical and emotional health. As a result, she has dedicated her career to helping professional women be their best selves. She does this through speaking, coaching, workshops, courses, and programs focused on educating and empowering busy professional women to make sleep a priority as a critical pillar of their health.She is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and The American Thoracic Society. She is also on the medical advisory board of Baby Center and the expert advisory board of Project Sleep. Links :Website: https://www.restfulslee Connect with Marianne: Website: Message In The Middle with Marianne Message In the Middle Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/422430469323847/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MessageInTheMiddle/playlists LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianne-demello-smith-678b9966 Email: Contact | Message In The Middle with Marianne Subscribe to Message In the Middle: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Leave Us a Review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review and share your favorite takeaway. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and bring you even more valuable content.Keep the conversation going - Join us for more insightful conversations in the Message in the Middle Private Facebook Community & subscribe to Message in th...