The eight-hour sleep myth

Saturday, February 1, 2025

Welcome!

This week, we came across a fascinating new book that challenges everything we thought we knew about sleep. In her report on the eight-hour sleep myth, insomniac Zoe Beaty speaks to the author of How to Sleep Like a Caveman, who explains why it's natural for some people to wake up in the middle of the night.

One thing keeping many people up at night, however, is work stress. To many, it feels like the younger generation isn't coping with life's ups and downs as well as their parents did. Here, Louise Chunn examines Generation Anxious and why ordinary blips are turning the young into "can't cope workers."

Many reading this will be popping a cork or two at the end of Dry January. If you're curious about what a month without alcohol has really done to your body, Anna Magee explores exactly how it will have changed after 30 days of sobriety.

Meanwhile, we're looking ahead to the next big wellness trends. Kate Spicer delves into the sudden craze for fire therapy, and a new study has found that Pvolve — Jennifer Aniston's fitness regime — is more beneficial for menopausal women than current government guidance. But what is it? Find out here.

Until next week!

Vicki Harper

Assistant Editor, The Independent

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