REM Runner’s Note: Dr. Colon is a diamond of a sleep doctor – he’s passionate about helping people. I’m proud to call Dr. Colon a friend and fellow sleep advocate.  His new book is an exciting addition to the sleep community. Please join me in thanking him for his tireless efforts on behalf of sleepy people!

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Dr. Jose Colon’s Guest Post:

I’m a doctor. I was not taught about sleep in medical school. And much of my efforts to reach out to medical schools to volunteer a lecture about sleep health has resulted with a common reply, “Our curricula is full”.

Dear Fellow Sleep Health Advocates, I hope I have your attention!

What I said is true. In medical school I received a lecture about CPAP and our “sleep” lecture was a pharmacology lecture about sleep meds. I also have a Masters in Public Health, and never received one lecture on sleep health. It wasn’t until I was in my Child Neurology Fellowship at Vanderbilt University where I got my first exposure to sleep medicine education.

Am I the only one who finds this alarming? One-Third of your life is spent in sleep, yet medical school’s curricula are too full? For every person who wonders why it takes about 10 years to have Narcolepsy diagnosed, I now have your attention. And for everyone who is calling for sleep health advocacy, read on!

My friends, I need your help. I believe everyone has the capacity to make this world a better place. I believe that when one is well rested they function better and with more compassion. And I believe the time to act on sleep health advocacy is now!

I’ve always felt a sense of Public Health Advocacy. And for every family I’ve been able to help, I wonder how many people within our community that I’m not reaching. That is why I started Paradise Sleep. I now have YouTube videos of sleep education, I’ve written a book for adults about sleep health, and am in process of developing children’s books as well.

The Sleep Diet, A Novel Approach to Insomnia is a book about sleep health. Insomnia is the intent, but it’s also just one component. Through story and metaphor the book teaches about Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Mindfulness, Yoga, Meditation, and raises Narcolepsy advocacy. The book helps with Anxiety, Smoking Cessation, and Women’s Health. It also teaches doctors about practicing medicine with compassion.

I would like to thank Julie Flygare as she inspired me in the development of The Sleep Diet, A Novel Approach to Insomnia. Around the time that I was collecting my information for education her book Wide Awake and Dreaming came out. As I was reading I felt many emotions, one of them was that it was a fun read.

United we can make an impact on sleep health education for generations to come. Here are 5 possible ways:

1. Join Paradise Sleep’s New Years Resolution to Get Sleep in The Library. Go to your local library and ask them to carry The Sleep Diet, A Novel Approach to Insomnia.

2. If you know someone who has difficulty sleeping, tell them about the book.

3. Tell physicians, psychologists, and other health providers about the book as well. If you’ve bought the book and read it, consider donating it to their waiting room. Sleep health advocacy doesn’t spread when it’s kept on your own bookshelf.

4. Spread the word about Get Oversleep which helps raise awareness about Narcolepsy and Hypersomnia. We are auctioning an author autographed copy of The Sleep Diet, of which winner will also receive coffee or Skype with the author. All proceeds will be donated to Julie Flygare’s PROJECT SLEEP nonprofit organization to raise awareness for sleep disorders and sleep health.

5. Visit www.ParadiseSleep.com for sleep health information.

This is a beautiful world my friends. And we can make this world a better place by spreading sleep health advocacy. Remember, One-Third of our lives are spent in sleep!

Encourage others to encourage others,
Jose Colon, M.D., MPH