Show notes
I sat down with sleep expert Dr. Shelby Harris to break down why sleep is a powerful driver of mental health, performance, and overall well being, especially for college students. We talked about common barriers like late nights, phones, and packed schedules, and why change starts with actually wanting it. Instead of perfection, we focused on small, practical experiments to improve sleep habits. This conversation will challenge you to see sleep as a competitive advantage for better mood, focus, and success.
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THE HARLAN COHEN PODCAST New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen has candid conversations with top experts, and leading influencers. Guests share their greatest victories, devastating setbacks, and most valuable advice to help listeners dream big and take action. Hosted by Harlan Cohen, New York Times bestselling author, and speaker. Harlan is the founder of Best First Year, and has over 1 million books in print. His live events, books, programs, and workshops have reached millions of people and changed countless lives.
About Dr. Shelby Harris
Dr. Harris is in private practice in White Plains, NY where she specializes in the use of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for anxiety and depression. She is board certified in Behavioral Sleep Medicine (BSM) by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and treats a wide variety of sleep disorders (insomnia, nightmares, circadian rhythm disorders, narcolepsy, apnea treatment noncompliance) using evidence-based non-pharmacological treatments. Before going into private practice, Dr. Harris was the longstanding director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center at Montefiore Medical Center.
Dr. Harris currently holds a dual academic senior-level appointment as Clinical Associate Professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in both the Neurology and Psychiatry Departments. Dr. Harris has published and presented research on the neuropsychological effects of insomnia in older adults as well as behavioral treatments for insomnia, parasomnias, narcolepsy, and excessive daytime sleepiness. She is frequently invited by hospitals and organizations to give grand rounds lectures and workshops.
She obtained her undergraduate degree with honors from Brown University and graduated with her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. Dr. Harris completed her predoctoral internship at Montefiore Medical Center where she trained in the Sleep-Wake Disorders Center and received advanced postdoctoral training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for anxiety and depression.
Shelby Harris, PsyD, DBSM
Licensed Psychologist
Board Certified, Behavioral Sleep Medicine
NY Sleep and Psychology
Clinical Associate Professor, Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NYC, NY
Website: www.drshelbyharris.com
Instagram: @ SleepDocShelby
Dr. Shelby's Books:
The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia: Get a Good Night’s Sleep Without Relying on Medication (by Harris)
The Essential Guide to Children’s Sleep: A Tired Caregiver’s Workbook for Every Age and Stage (by Roth, Shale and Harris)
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:20 Why Sleep Matters for Longevity and Performance
03:30 Why College Students Ignore Sleep
05:50 How Sleep Impacts The Brain
07:30 Sleep Trackers, Wearables, and Obsessing Over Data
10:00 Phones, Technology, and Realistic Sleep Boundaries
12:00 Building Better Sleep Habits Through Small Experiments
16:30 Why You Have to Want Better Sleep
20:00 Learning from High Performers and Athletes
22:30 Roommates, Communication, and Sleep Compatibility
28:00 Sleep Environment, Temperature, and Dorm Challenges
34:30 Supplements, Alcohol, Weed, and Sleep Myths
42:30 Naps, Irregular Schedules, and Energy Management
47:00 Medical Issues, Snoring, and When to Get Help
50:30 Can You Catch Up on Sleep and Final Takeaways