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I Hated Sleep—Until This Hidden Brain Episode Changed My Mind

May 22, 2025

If you had told me a year ago that I’d be prioritizing 8 hours of sleep each night, I would have thought, Impossible!

I’ve spent most of my adult life seeing sleep as optional—an inefficient use of time, or a waste of time. While studies on sleep over the past few years have enlightened me to how wrong I was, I still struggle to go to bed before midnight. I notice that, although my intellect recognizes the value of going to bed before midnight (ideally, it'd be even earlier) for 8 hours of sleep, other parts of me—probably emotional or psychological—didn't want to sleep. I have too much fun when I'm awake!

However, the Hidden Brain episode "Eyes Wide Open: Part 2" completely reframed how I see rest. Knowing that sleep is when our brain detoxes and performs many invaluable operations helped my intellect want to sleep more, but it wasn't enough to change my sleep in meaningful ways. I've needed to want to sleep more.

Finally, Hidden Brain's "Eyes Wide Open: Part 2" introduced me to the mysterious creative opportunities that can occur during sleep. Transformative inventions have originated during sleep! For example, the iconic guitar riff in the Rolling Stones hugely popular song, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" came to Keith Richards in a dream, according to Eyes Wide Open.

Whether you struggle to sleep, have a love-hate relationship with it, or want to optimize your health, this 5-minute Raindrop episode can be a powerful introduction to new ways of viewing sleep.

This episode is part of the Practical Nontoxic Living Raindrop series, a collection of short, powerful insights for everyday healing. It’s also featured in the Ultimate Home Detox Unpacked, a curated podcast collection that supports your home detox journey.

🎧 Listen now:

About Sophia Ruan Gushée & Ruan Living

Sophia Ruan Gushée is the creator of Practical Nontoxic Living—a science-informed practice of discernment that helps people ask the questions that matter most, interpret evidence thoughtfully, navigate uncertainty with confidence, and make wiser decisions for their homes, health, and future generations.

She is the bestselling author of A to Z of D-Toxing, host of the Practical Nontoxic Living podcast, and founder of Ruan Living, where nearly two decades of interdisciplinary research on household toxic exposures and environmental and public health is distilled into articles, podcast episodes, Substack essays, and educational programs—each one meant to make the next thoughtful decision a little easier than the last.

Continue exploring: start the free Ultimate Home Detox Kickstart, listen to the Practical Nontoxic Living podcast, read Sophia’s Substack essays, or learn more about Sophia.

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and should not replace personalized medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health concerns before making decisions that may affect your health.

Affiliate Disclosure

Some links in this article are affiliate links, including links to the Ruan Living Amazon storefront. If you purchase through them, Ruan Living may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Products are curated on published, exposure-based criteria—never on commission.

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