In a society focused on rushing through the “daily grind,” taking care of the human body has never been more important.
There are many classes, books, and online resources informing people on how to improve their daily eating and exercise routines, but very few when it comes to learning how to take care of sleeping habits.
University of Michigan neurology and sleep medicine professor Dr. Ronald Chervin has changed that.
Chervin and a team from Michigan Medicine have created a free online course, “From Sleep Disorders to Sleep Health,” to highlight the importance of good sleeping habits in a simple and effective package.
Taught by sleep professors and clinicians, the 13-hour, five module course is approachable for all ages, from adults who wake up tired in the morning, to high school students who struggle falling asleep at night – no medical degree needed.
The course explores how crucial sleep is to the human body, explains how to tackle the hurdles to forming good sleeping habits, and teaches how to spot some of the symptoms of a sleep disorder.
It also covers how sleep needs change from childhood through the various stages of adulthood and considers the effects of one’s environment, ethnicity, or gender.
In a post from Michigan Medicine, Chervin acknowledged the lack of education of sleep health and emphasized the importance of raising awareness.
“So much time is spent teaching our youth about the importance of exercise and nutrition while sleep education is often overlooked in schools,” Chervin said. “We realized there was an opportunity to create an educational resource for those eager to learn more about their own sleep, as well as those who might want to teach others about ways to optimize sleep health.”
Chervin hopes that the course will help people understand the mental and physical benefits of attaining a good night’s sleep and encourage them to take steps to improve their daily health.
The course is online and available for anyone to take at their own pace, free of charge.
