Hundreds learn benefits of a good night’s sleep at Yale. #SleepRevolution
By Karen N. Peart | April 20, 2016
Attendees put their feet up to watch a video about good sleep habits during the #SleepRevolution at Yale event. (Photo by Alaina Pritchard)
No one was caught napping — although many learned the 13 commandments of better sleep — at Yale’s #SleepRevolution event at the Commons at the Schwarzman Center on April 15.
Over 400 undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students, as well as staff, attended the event, which aimed to raise awareness about the importance of getting enough quality sleep. There were information stations offering expertise about the dangers of sleep deprivation and tips on how to prioritize sleep, as well as free giveaways and food.
Yale School of Medicine sleep expert, Dr. Meir Kryger reviewed 13 commandments of better sleep (read them here), as special prizes for Sleep Revolution sleep kits and other specialty items were raffled off. Yale School of Nursing’s Victoria Pak also offered helpful sleep tips to the students gathered at her station.
Attendees indicate the number of hours they sleep each night — an excercise that revealed many were sleep-deprived. (Photo by Alaina Pritchard)
At the sleep chart station, attendees logged their average number of sleep hours per night. The numbers ranged from three hours per night to up to 12 hours per night. Many reported sleeping five to six hours nightly, which according to Kryger, makes them sleep-deprived. Paul McKinley of the Yale College Dean’s Office offered power-napping tips, alerting attendees that “in order for power napping to be effective, you need a full night’s sleep.”
The event featured free sleep-inducing gifts from vendors such as Aura Cacia, Bedgear, Chobani, Ikea, L’Occitane, Marpac, The Running Company, and Sleepbox, and everyone received free copies of Arianna Huffington’s new book, “The Sleep Revolution.”
Most importantly, most of the attendees said they came away from the event more informed about the importance of sleep in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The event was sponsored by The Huffington Post, Yale Office of Public Affairs & Communications, the Office of the Secretary and Vice President for Student Life, Student Wellness at Yale, Being Well at Yale, Peer Wellness Champions, Tobacco Free Yale, and the Office of New Haven & State Affairs.
