For centuries, people have sought a youth pill without realizing it is already available and free. It is called sleep. Getting the recommended 7-8 hours per night provides an abundance of benefits, including a healthier heart, an increased ability to fight malignancy, improved learning and memory, and better weight control.

On March 10th (11-11:45 am PT), I will team up with clinical psychologist Dr. Laura Maphis to discuss age-related changes in our sleep patterns and the lastest treatments for insomnia. This is part of the Wellness Wednesdays series which resumes again on January 13th.

Until then, here are some sleep-related resources from me and the Zing community:

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, PhD. In my opinion, this is the best book on health in the 21st century. A fascinating and easy read.

The Calm App subscription if you want to drift off to sleep with guided meditations or 100+ sleep stories with celebrities like Matt McConaughey, Keanu Reeves, and Lucy Liu. Try a 7 day free trial.

Noise-cancelling ear plugs which come in handy if your partner snores or you live in a noisy urban environment.

A weighted blanket which minics a technique called Deep Pressure Stimulation (DPS), a gentle squeezing or hugging that calms the nervous system. The one listed here is affordable and comes in a wide range of weights. Look for one that is about 10% of your body weight.

A body pillow for side sleepers. Technically this is designed for pregnant women, but it is also ideal for anyone who sleeps on their side and wrestles with back and hip pain as well as general achiness.

A Sleep Number smart bed. Okay, this suggestion is at the high end of the price range but is worth considering if you and your partner have different sleep habits. You can adjust firmness on both sides of the bed and get detailed analytics about your personal sleep quality.