Ted Talk: Sleep Is Your Superpower

Location: We will meet at True Food Kitchen (Bethesda) (7100 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD 20815)

Sleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker. In this deep dive into the science of slumber, Walker shares the wonderfully good things that happen when you get sleep -- and the alarmingly bad things that happen when you don't, for both your brain and body. Learn more about sleep's impact on your learning, memory, immune system and even your genetic code -- as well as some helpful tips for getting some shut-eye.

Please watch this 19-min video before joining the discussion:
https://youtu.be/5MuIMqhT8DM?si=IOow9ooyaihB8fLd

If more than 10 people join the discussion, we will break out into separate groups.
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1. Sleep is as essential as food or water, yet it’s treated more like a luxury than a biological requirement. What would change if we approached sleep as a strategic asset, in our health, leadership, and long-term performance?
2. Sleep loss erodes attention and decision-making, often invisibly. In high-stakes or fast-paced environments, how can we build safeguards to avoid the illusion of alertness when we’re actually impaired?
3. Societal pressure often links long work hours with ambition and success, reinforcing unhealthy sleep behaviors. How can we personally redefine our ambition and self-worth in ways that prioritize sustainable energy over burnout culture?
4. We often rely on alarms to force ourselves awake, interrupting the natural end of our sleep cycle. What changes can we make to our bedtime routines or sleep environment so we wake up without an alarm more often?
5. Just one poor night of sleep can suppress immune function and open the door to illness. If we framed sleep as preventive medicine, what would that mean for how we manage stress, deadlines, or organizational health policies?
6. Caffeine, alcohol, and screens have become cultural norms, yet all interfere with quality sleep. What could a healthier “wind-down culture” look like, in homes or even digital platforms?

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To provide an enjoyable experience for fellow participants, here are three ground rules during discussion events:

1. Step up and step back. (If you feel that you’ve been talking too much, step back to listen more. If you feel that you’ve been relatively quiet, step up to share your perspective or ask a question)
2. Listen to understand, not to respond.
3. Be open-minded and value differences.