There was much talk of doom and destruction at this year's conference — technology will overtake us all, climate change could destroy the planet, and so on — but by far the scariest talk had to do with sleep.
Most of the time, I tune out recommendations to get more sleep, partly because I hear them so often. I may not get a full eight or nine hours, but I'm far better than former Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer, who reportedly sleeps only four hours a night.
One short talk from sleep scientist Matt Walker and I'm going to bed early from now on. Walker taught me that sleeping six hours versus eight hours could be the difference between a healthy immune system and body that's at risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Research also tells us that lack of sleep can also lead to premature aging, weight gain, memory loss, Alzheimer's, depression, type 2 diabetes, and reproductive issues. Men who sleep five hours a night even tend to have smaller testicles than those who sleep seven hours or more, Walker said.
Rather than popping a sleeping pill, Walker said, the best way to ensure a good night's sleep is to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Walker also recommended keeping the bedroom temperature at around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, or moving to another room if you're tossing and turning so you don't associate your bed with wakefulness.