According to Self, Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) aims to attain a very relaxed condition. However, it does occasionally cause people to get tired. According to mythology, Dr. Andrew D. Huberman coined the term NSDR to teach topics such as meditation and mindfulness to individuals who were unfamiliar with them.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai highlighted his daily practice of non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, noting that it helps him relax and recharge by “self-inducing a state of stillness” and “directing our attention to whatever.”
Pichai told the Journal that he had “discovered these podcasts that are non-sleep deep rest,” or NSDRs. “As a result, even when I’m having difficulty meditating, I can still go online and view an NSDR video. ” Yoga Nidra, also known as “non-sleep profound rest,” happens when the body is completely relaxed, and the mind is awake.
With the aid of NSDR, you can reap the revitalizing advantages of sleep without having to sleep. When practicing NSDR, there are two stages: purposefully entering a rest state and subsequently engaging in the concentrated activity.
This is a simple and effective way to unwind. The only requirement is total relaxation, which may be accomplished at any time. It would help if you practiced NSDR in a calm, distraction-free setting.
Dr. Andrew Huberman, a famous Stanford neurologist, and researcher, coined the term “nonspecific delayed reaction” (NSDR). According to Dr. Huberman, the therapeutic advantages of some events may infiltrate the body in the same way that sleep does.
When we evaluate the research, we will explore the health advantages of NSDR.
Dr. Huberman has been using NSDR for some time. “I have been using NSDR every day for ten years and find [it] to be among the more effective tools out there for restoring lost sleep, attention (after), and neuroplasticity,” he stated on Twitter.
NSDR causes brain waves to slow, similar to slow-wave sleep (SWS). Slow-wave sleep, sometimes known as deep sleep, is one of the four sleep phases. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the third stage of sleep (non-REM sleep). During slow-wave sleep, delta waves can be seen on an electroencephalogram (EEG) (a device used to measure brain waves).
Slow-wave sleep allows the body and mind to repair and renew. According to research, this is when growth hormone levels are at their peak. Growth hormone not only helps to heal damaged tissue, but it also increases mental clarity.
Slow-wave sleep increases nervous system activity while lowering the sympathetic “fight or flight” response. Cardiovascular and respiratory functions return to normal when the parasympathetic nervous system is activated. As a consequence, your heart health will improve as assessed by characteristics such as heart rate variability.
For some people, NSDR is a practical approach to induce brain activity changes comparable to those observed during slow-wave sleep. As you practice NSDR, your brain waves will change from the active beta range to the more relaxed alpha region and finally into the theta band, which is associated with a profound meditative state, as measured by a brain wave meter.
If NSDR is used correctly, the delta frequency may be achieved, typically only reached during slow-wave sleep. Because its effect on the brain is comparable to slow-wave rest, NSDR may deliver the beneficial results of deep sleep without the time spent in bed.
The importance of NSDR is highlighted by the fact that most people, even when they get adequate sleep, do not routinely experience slow-wave sleep. Some data suggest that NSDR can improve sleep quality and even mirror the benefits of slow-wave sleep. As a result, NSDR should be a consistent element of your sleep regimen.
Getting adequate sleep is a tried-and-true approach for enhancing one’s physical and mental health and one’s capacity to focus and complete tasks. Unfortunately, getting the recommended quantity and quality of sleep in today’s fast-paced world may take a lot of work. Your body will not be able to rejuvenate if you do not get enough sleep.
The good news is that there are alternative ways to obtain adequate sleep. Non-sleep deep rest is a strategy that does not include sleeping yet gives many of the same advantages as deep sleep. Hypnosis and yoga Nidra are two ways that can be used to improve NSDR. Because with NSDR, you may gain the numerous health benefits of deep sleep.
Keeping a sleep log may be beneficial in evaluating the efficacy of your sleep. On the other hand, getting the necessary amount of sleep each night isn’t necessarily enough to ensure you’ll reach the more necessary, deeper periods of rest. Smart wearables can track how you spend your evenings and send reminders when it’s time to start NSDR or make other changes.
Vital is the place to be if you want to improve your health and lifestyle, especially your sleep. Vital can aggregate data from many wearables in one location, allowing you to monitor your health and respond quickly to changes.
