But is that really true?
Or do your environment and lifestyle have more of an influence on sleep than you realize?
Sleep: Nature or nurture?
The great nature-or-nurture debate boils down to the power of genetics versus the power of your environment.
It’s often used in regard to chronic illness.
When it comes to some illnesses, we find that the environment plays an incredibly strong role.
For example, only about5% of cancers2can be explained by genetics alone.
But what about when it comes to sleep?
Can you go from a “bad sleeper” to a good sleeper?
We know that in general, the way we live our lives has a massive impact on our health.
Sleep is no different.
“Genes are not your destiny,” says Bhopal.
With preventive measures and interventions, gene expression can be modified," she continues.
It’s essentially a seed for a gene," he explains.
“This means that having a genetic predisposition doesn’t mean you will have horrible sleep.
It means you have the chance for that,” Tal says.
In other words, the quality of your sleep is at least partially in your control.
Some people stress less; some stress more.
Some people eat less; some eat more.
Try cognitive behavioral therapy
“Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia really does work,” says Tal.
Focus on optimizing what you might, but don’t fret about a night ofpoor sleep here and there.
But ultimately, your genes are not your destiny.
