NBC News - "During my residency I had a very unique experience where I got a chance to work in a sleep lab and I saw that I could change people's lives in under 24 hours."
He's become known as the sleep doctor, but Dr. Michael Breus's credentials are impressive.
"I actually have a Ph.D. on clinical psychology and I'm board certified in clinical sleep disorders. I'm a practicing sleep specialist. I see sleep patients who have narcolepsy and insomnia."
And he's written a few books on the topic. Dr. Breus knows the importance of sleep.
"We now know that if you're not sleeping enough it has major effects, both emotionally, cognitively, in reaction time, you name it and especially now that kids are starting to go back to school we also know that if they're not sleeping well, they're not going to be studying well and not going to be performing well."
So how much sleep do we need?
"Everybody's sleep needs appear to be different so I'm a six and a half hour guy, have been my entire life but I've got patients who require 8 1/2 or 9 hours so it really just depends. What I tell people is if you can wake up within five minutes of your alarm going off you've probably found the right amount of sleep."
Routine, he says, is crucial. So is a dark, cool, quiet room. Even down to your mattress, pillow and bedding.
"It's really a sleep system and if you don't have the right performance equipment you're not going to perform well."
