Why sleep may be your most important resolution this year

Jan 7 • Sleep

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine's 2025 Sleep Prioritization Survey found that sleep, diet, and exercise form an interconnected triad. Among 2,007 adults surveyed, 59% reported that a well-balanced diet helps them sleep better, while 42-46% saw improvements from regular exercise. However, what most coverage overlooks is that many people continue to struggle with sleep, even when they eat well and exercise regularly.

Research from Oregon Health & Science University found that sleep insufficiency was more strongly correlated with life expectancy than diet, exercise, or even loneliness (second only to smoking). The reason some people can't sleep despite healthy habits often comes down to a dysregulated stress response. When your nervous system is stuck in a chronic "fight or flight" state, the physiological systems that regulate sleep simply don't function properly.

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