Dr. Ian Dunican, an expert in sleep science, dives into the crucial role of sleep in combat sports. He explores how poor sleep impacts cognitive function, reaction time, and recovery, stressing the need for better sleep strategies among athletes. Dunican discusses challenges like irregular event timings and jet lag, providing practical tips for optimizing sleep, such as adjusting schedules and utilizing technology wisely. The importance of sleep education for coaches is highlighted, ensuring athletes can perform at their best.

In this lively session, Ian Dunican, Director of Melius Consulting and sleep expert, teams up with John Iliff, an emergency physician with firsthand experience of fatigue, to delve into the nuances of circadian rhythms. They discuss how these biological clocks influence our health and performance, particularly in high-stress jobs. The conversation highlights alarming consequences of disrupted rhythms, share practical strategies to manage fatigue, and reflect on the historical impacts of shift work. They also dissect some trendy sleep hacks and the mysteries of sleep science.