It’s not the chronotype itself that causes these problems, it’s the mismatch between the chronotype and the daily schedule. Research from 2012 showed that those with social jet lag were more likely to be overweight, had a greater risk for depression and were more likely to participate in risky behaviors such as smoking or drinking. When a person’s body clock is out of sync with society’s clock, scientists call it “social jet lag,” which puts stress on the body and mind that can affect job performance and undermine health. But people who need to stay up late and wake up late often struggle to conform to the duties and expectations that come with a 9-to-5 job. For those who need to get to bed early and wake up early, it’s not so difficult to fit in. The expression “the early bird catches the worm” dates back to the early 17th century. Having a sleep schedule that is outside the norm can be a problem, as society tends to reward early risers. With flex schedules and more jobs available for nighttime workers, some people benefit from being a night owl. Because both science and educators have recognized this, some schools now are starting later to help their students to be more alert and productive during class time. They prefer to stay up later and wake up later, though this pattern shifts earlier as they age. Many teenagers tend to be in this category as their changing hormones can affect their chronotype. Then, there are those who fall on the edges of the curve. and 6 a.m., or between midnight and 8 a.m. About 40% of people have sleep cycles that fall about an hour or so down the sides of the curve, sleeping between 10 p.m. Approximately 30% to 50% of people fall in the middle of this curve, sleeping between the hours of 11 p.m. We each have a chronotype that fits on a bell curve alongside everyone else’s. There are early birds and night owls, and many others in between. While habits play a role in this, a person’s chronotype, or internal clock, is most influenced by genetics and can be difficult to change. Modern science has identified chronotypes among people. While this sounds like a healthy lifestyle choice, is it possible for everyone? Meals are planned for optimal digestion, with the largest meal of the day consumed around noon. For those who need more sleep, they go to bed earlier at night. Ayurveda advises people who need less sleep to wake up earlier in the morning. According to Ayurveda, this is an essential practice for people to be in harmony with nature and to be their healthiest and happiest selves. Given the amenities of life we have at our fingertips, it’s understandable how easily our own rhythms can get out of synch with nature.Īyurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of integrated medicine from India that says the mind and body operate most efficiently when we go to bed at the same time each night, 10 p.m., and arise at the same time each morning, 6 a.m. And between the thousands of television and radio stations we have access to, along with internet options, we never are lacking in around-the-clock entertainment. We don’t have to wait for stores to open because we can shop online whenever we want. We travel across oceans and time zones in a matter of hours. We do business with foreign countries by computer and phone at all times of the day and night. It wasn’t that long ago that the few television channels we received signed off at midnight, and there was no overnight programming. People woke up with the sun, worked in the daylight and went to bed not too long after dark. When we look at patterns of daily behavior, such as eating and sleeping, circadian rhythms are key.īefore the world had electricity, people stayed in rhythm with nature’s cycles. This rhythm is created internally, but it can be modified by external factors, such as temperature and sunlight. Circadian rhythms regulate the physiological processes of living animals and plants within about a 24-hour cycle. We see it in the way the seasons change, the way the tide comes in and out, and the way the sun rises and sets. The BSC is the consumer education arm of the International Sleep Products Association.
#Rhythms and blues free#
Feel free to share this great guidance from Better Sleep Council spokeswoman Lissa Coffey with your shoppers (with credit given, of course). What does our body need to stay in balance? These suggestions for managing daily behaviors, especially sleep, can lead to better health and a happier lifeĮditor’s note: Savvy mattress retailers want to do everything they can to help their customers sleep better, including offering them sound advice and tips.