Why they don't tell you this about sleeping | Benjamin Long

Are you a high achiever struggling with "anxious toil," or a parent who hasn't seen a full night of rest in years? In this episode of the 5 a.m. Podcast, host Michael Klassen sits down with Dr. Benjamin Long—a dual board-certified sleep medicine physician, pediatrician, and seminary student.

Dr. Long lives at the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and theology, viewing sleep not just as a medical necessity, but as a spiritual gift.

We dive deep into why sleep-deprived entrepreneurs make poor business decisions, how the "ubiquitous smartphone" broke our internal clocks in 2012, and why the ancient practice of the Daily Examine can cure your 3 a.m. overthinking.

If you are ready to trade restlessness for a truly rested life and turn your bedroom back into a sanctuary, this conversation is for you.

✨ Grab Dr. Long’s new book, "Sleep Habits, Journal Practices, Prayers and Devotions to Ease Your Sleepless Nights" at https://www.sleephabitsjournal.com

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If you loved this episode, buy us a virtual coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/5ampodcast---📌

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Welcome Dr. Benjamin Long to the 5 a.m. Podcast

02:00 - The Hebrew Tradition: Why the Day Actually Starts with Rest

04:30 - REM vs. Non-REM: What Your Brain is Doing While You Sleep

07:00 - Adenosine, Caffeine, and the Glymphatic "Brain Drain" System

11:45 - How Smartphones and Blue Light Broke Our Circadian Rhythms

16:50 - The "Sleepless Night Rules" (And the Truth About Naps)

20:00 - How to Fix "The Overthinker" & "The Clock Watcher" Archetypes

24:50 - Why Sleep-Deprived Founders Pick Bad Business Ideas

27:30 - Your Mattress Isn't the Problem: Behavioral Barriers to Sleep

32:00 - The Strongest "Zeitgeber": Using Total Darkness to Reset

35:30 - What is Theo-Somnia? Integrating Faith and Sleep Science

45:30 - Psalm 127 & The Vanity of Anxious Toil

51:00 - Sleep Interruption in the Bible: The Call of Samuel & Gethsemane

58:30 - A Powerful 3 a.m. Practice for the Bone-Tired Soul

Contact Dr. Benjamin Long: https://thewholeheartedmd.comFollow 5AM Podcast on our

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