Making sense of sleep: What works and why

Sleep advice is everywhere — and much of it is confusing, unrealistic, or far too generic. You’re told to go to bed earlier, switch off screens, meditate, buy supplements, or create the perfect bedtime routine. Yet many people try these things and still struggle.

This workshop offers a more practical and evidence-based way to understand and improve sleep. You’ll learn the key biological and psychological drivers of sleep, why common problems happen, and which changes tend to make the biggest difference. Rather than a list of rigid rules, the focus is on approaches that can be adapted to real lives, real schedules, and real challenges.

There will be opportunities throughout the session to reflect on your own sleep patterns, ask questions, and consider the changes most likely to help you.

You'll leave the workshop with:

• A clearer understanding of what drives healthy sleep
• More confidence in knowing what advice to follow and what you can safely ignore
• Practical, realistic strategies you can tailor to your own situation

Whether your sleep has been off for years, you’re going through a stressful patch, or you’d simply like to understand it better, this session will help you cut through the noise and focus on what matters.

Speaker bio:

Dr Nicola Cann is a sleep psychologist who provides consultations, workshops, and training to help improve the sleep health of individuals, families, and organisations in New Zealand and internationally. Her work combines evidence-based sleep science, clinical practice, and a practical understanding of how sleep difficulties show up in everyday life. She is known for making complex sleep topics clear, engaging, and genuinely useful, with advice that is realistic rather than idealised.