Last week I attended a one day conference called "Mental Health and Small Business". During a round table discussion, I was talking to a sleep expert, Dr Lindsay Browning, and I was asking her about some of the things I have been led to believe about sleep. One of the most eye-opening moments was learning the truth about blue light and its effect on sleep. Like many people, I had been convinced that exposure to screens before bed would seriously mess with my sleep quality. However, Dr. Browning shared a surprising fact: blue light only delays sleep by about 9 minutes! I have to admit, I’m definitely not sharing this with my kids, or they'd use it as an excuse for extra screen time. But on a personal level, it’s a relief to know I don't need to stress too much about late-night screen usage.

Another myth that I had completely bought into—since I was about 12—is that the sleep you get before midnight is somehow “better” than the sleep you get afterward. I used to think that if I wasn’t in bed by midnight, my sleep quality was doomed. Dr. Browning cleared this up too. Turns out, as long as you get the right amount of sleep (between 7 and 9 hours), it doesn’t matter when you go to bed. Whether you’re a night owl or an early bird, the key is finding the number of hours that works best for you—some thrive on 7 hours, others need 9.

The conversation got me thinking about how much misinformation we’re bombarded with daily. It’s like this with so many things—whether it’s sleep, diet, or finances—the truth is often pretty simple, maybe even a bit boring. Take building wealth, for example. The basic formula isn't rocket science:

That’s it. Not exactly clickbait material, right? You won’t see flashy headlines pushing that idea. Instead, financial news often floods us with negativity, scare tactics, or overhyped trends. We’ve all seen it—articles warning that the market is crashing and financial doom is inevitable.

But here’s the thing: if you’ve lived through major market events—like the dot-com bubble, the global financial crisis, or the more recent Covid-19 pandemic—you’ve witnessed the markets fall... and then recover to new highs. The headlines make it seem like "this time it’s different," encouraging panic and emotional reactions. Yet, those who follow the tried-and-true (and yes, boring) principles of investing know that the smartest move is often to do nothing, remain patient, and ride it out. But that wouldn’t exactly make for a captivating front page, would it?

The truth is, so many people likely sold off their investments in a panic during those downturns, locking in their losses—destroying their wealth in the process. Meanwhile, the markets eventually rebounded. This just goes to show that if you rely solely on mainstream media for advice on your wealth, health, or lifestyle, you’re probably being misled. The simple truths—while not exciting—are often the most reliable. The real challenge is managing your emotions and staying grounded in the basics, even when the world around you is screaming otherwise.