The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

Human Sleep Expert: Don't Pee In The Middle Of The Night & Why Night Time Sex Isn't A Good Idea!

4198 snips
Feb 9, 2026
Dr. Michael Breus, clinical psychologist and sleep specialist known for chronotypes and practical sleep fixes. He explains the four chronotypes and how to time work, sex, coffee and sleep. He covers why waking at 3am happens, the 3-2-1 evening rule, alcohol’s harm to deep sleep, middle-of-night wake strategies, and when to test for sleep apnea.
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TV As A Corner‑Of‑Ear Sleep Tool

  • Michael's wife sleeps with the TV on and uses it as a corner-of-ear distraction to fall asleep.
  • He accepted variability in sleep habits and used timers to compromise rather than enforce silence.

Use Melatonin Sparingly And At Low Doses

  • Use melatonin selectively: jet lag, shift work, melatonin deficiency, or specific disorders; prefer 0.5–1.5 mg not 10–20 mg gummies.
  • Avoid giving melatonin to most children; it can affect puberty and interacts with many medications.

OTC Melatonin Has Unreliable Potency

  • Over-the-counter melatonin supplements vary wildly in dose and purity, creating safety and dosing risks.
  • Many products contain far more or different ingredients than labelled, so treat OTC melatonin cautiously.
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