The Sleep Edit
@thesleepedit.bsky.social
Having the conversation about sleep. Lucky enough to be featured in the BBC, Vogue, and more.
It can be useful for nightmares (learning to respond differently in the dream), but it’s not a guaranteed therapy, and chasing it too hard can make sleep feel like a performance.
January 22, 2026 at 7:15 PM
It can be useful for nightmares (learning to respond differently in the dream), but it’s not a guaranteed therapy, and chasing it too hard can make sleep feel like a performance.
Think of it like watching a film… and then noticing you’re also in the cinema.
Some people get lucid dreams naturally. Some never do. Some try techniques and just end up waking themselves up.
Some people get lucid dreams naturally. Some never do. Some try techniques and just end up waking themselves up.
January 22, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Think of it like watching a film… and then noticing you’re also in the cinema.
Some people get lucid dreams naturally. Some never do. Some try techniques and just end up waking themselves up.
Some people get lucid dreams naturally. Some never do. Some try techniques and just end up waking themselves up.
A few things people get wrong:
You don’t need to control the dream for it to count. Control can happen, but lucidity is the awareness part.
It usually shows up in REM sleep, when dreams are vivid and your brain is doing its most cinematic work.
You don’t need to control the dream for it to count. Control can happen, but lucidity is the awareness part.
It usually shows up in REM sleep, when dreams are vivid and your brain is doing its most cinematic work.
January 22, 2026 at 7:15 PM
A few things people get wrong:
You don’t need to control the dream for it to count. Control can happen, but lucidity is the awareness part.
It usually shows up in REM sleep, when dreams are vivid and your brain is doing its most cinematic work.
You don’t need to control the dream for it to count. Control can happen, but lucidity is the awareness part.
It usually shows up in REM sleep, when dreams are vivid and your brain is doing its most cinematic work.
The goal isn’t “lucid every night.” The goal is: wake up feeling more human.
January 22, 2026 at 7:11 PM
The goal isn’t “lucid every night.” The goal is: wake up feeling more human.
Useful sometimes for nightmares or practicing a calmer response inside a dream. Not a guaranteed therapy.
January 22, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Useful sometimes for nightmares or practicing a calmer response inside a dream. Not a guaranteed therapy.
People vary a lot: some get them naturally, some never, some can learn techniques… some end up just waking themselves up.
January 22, 2026 at 7:11 PM
People vary a lot: some get them naturally, some never, some can learn techniques… some end up just waking themselves up.
Think of it like: the dream is the movie… and lucidity is you noticing you’re also in the cinema.
January 22, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Think of it like: the dream is the movie… and lucidity is you noticing you’re also in the cinema.
It tends to show up in REM sleep, when dreams are vivid and your brain is doing its most cinematic work.
January 22, 2026 at 7:11 PM
It tends to show up in REM sleep, when dreams are vivid and your brain is doing its most cinematic work.
You don’t have to start flying.
Awareness is the key feature. Control is just a possible add-on.
Awareness is the key feature. Control is just a possible add-on.
January 22, 2026 at 7:11 PM
You don’t have to start flying.
Awareness is the key feature. Control is just a possible add-on.
Awareness is the key feature. Control is just a possible add-on.
Sleep isn’t anti-fun.
It just prefers the afterglow, not the party.
It just prefers the afterglow, not the party.
December 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Sleep isn’t anti-fun.
It just prefers the afterglow, not the party.
It just prefers the afterglow, not the party.
Calm joy settles the nervous system.
High-energy fun keeps it switched on.
High-energy fun keeps it switched on.
December 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Calm joy settles the nervous system.
High-energy fun keeps it switched on.
High-energy fun keeps it switched on.
Your brain doesn’t judge emotions as good or bad. It reads intensity.
December 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Your brain doesn’t judge emotions as good or bad. It reads intensity.
But excitement and laughter close to bedtime still activate arousal systems. Dopamine, adrenaline, light exposure, social stimulation all signal wakefulness.
December 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
But excitement and laughter close to bedtime still activate arousal systems. Dopamine, adrenaline, light exposure, social stimulation all signal wakefulness.
Reindeer evolved for constant cold and darkness.
Humans evolved for consolidated, full sleep cycles.
Santa’s crew can cheat the system. We can’t.
Humans evolved for consolidated, full sleep cycles.
Santa’s crew can cheat the system. We can’t.
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reindeer evolved for constant cold and darkness.
Humans evolved for consolidated, full sleep cycles.
Santa’s crew can cheat the system. We can’t.
Humans evolved for consolidated, full sleep cycles.
Santa’s crew can cheat the system. We can’t.
When we fragment sleep to stay productive, reaction time, mood, memory, and judgement all quietly degrade. Even when we feel “fine.”
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
When we fragment sleep to stay productive, reaction time, mood, memory, and judgement all quietly degrade. Even when we feel “fine.”
Now the important bit for humans:
We do not have this switch.
We do not have this switch.
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Now the important bit for humans:
We do not have this switch.
We do not have this switch.
On EEG, their brain activity briefly slows, then snaps back to alertness.
Think of it as biological “power-saving mode,” not full shutdown.
Think of it as biological “power-saving mode,” not full shutdown.
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
On EEG, their brain activity briefly slows, then snaps back to alertness.
Think of it as biological “power-saving mode,” not full shutdown.
Think of it as biological “power-saving mode,” not full shutdown.
This isn’t hibernation.
It isn’t normal sleep either.
It’s a survival workaround that keeps them responsive to predators, weather, and possibly sleigh bells.
It isn’t normal sleep either.
It’s a survival workaround that keeps them responsive to predators, weather, and possibly sleigh bells.
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
This isn’t hibernation.
It isn’t normal sleep either.
It’s a survival workaround that keeps them responsive to predators, weather, and possibly sleigh bells.
It isn’t normal sleep either.
It’s a survival workaround that keeps them responsive to predators, weather, and possibly sleigh bells.
Instead, their brains drop into short, low-power rest states while they keep chewing.
Resting… but still operational.
Resting… but still operational.
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Instead, their brains drop into short, low-power rest states while they keep chewing.
Resting… but still operational.
Resting… but still operational.
In the Arctic winter, reindeer don’t sleep in neat, human-style blocks.
Too dark. Too cold. Too much grazing to risk switching fully “off.”
Too dark. Too cold. Too much grazing to risk switching fully “off.”
December 2, 2025 at 6:01 PM
In the Arctic winter, reindeer don’t sleep in neat, human-style blocks.
Too dark. Too cold. Too much grazing to risk switching fully “off.”
Too dark. Too cold. Too much grazing to risk switching fully “off.”
The fix is gentle stability.
Keep wake times closer to your weekday pattern, get morning light on both days, and build a calm Sunday routine that signals safety rather than stress.
Keep wake times closer to your weekday pattern, get morning light on both days, and build a calm Sunday routine that signals safety rather than stress.
November 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The fix is gentle stability.
Keep wake times closer to your weekday pattern, get morning light on both days, and build a calm Sunday routine that signals safety rather than stress.
Keep wake times closer to your weekday pattern, get morning light on both days, and build a calm Sunday routine that signals safety rather than stress.