Do you follow your body clock?

Does your daily routine go hand in hand with your body clock? Do you sleep when you will get the best rest? Do you wake up at sunrise? Do you notice a difference in how you feel depending on the cycle you follow?

Your body functions in a cyclical way regulating itself throughout the day with hormones, blood pressure, body temperature etc. The natural human cycle follows a 24-hour clock, which is called a Circadian Rhythm. The rhythm is largely regulated by sunlight but also by other factors, like temperatures. In extreme conditions, like during the winter in Arctic areas where there is no exposure to light, the cycle can simply stop. Disruption of the circadian cycle often has a negative effect on mood, appetite, growth/repair and brain function. The below points list what happens during the cycle, as outlined by the Health Cloud blog:

Circadian Rhythm key points

Below are some key points which have been recorded in a normal human circadian rhythm. The times are approximate, and will vary slightly from person to person for various reasons. Circadian rhythms can be disrupted (by working night shifts for example), which can alter them.

• 2am – This is the point of deepest sleep.
• 4am – 5am – Body temperature drops to its lowest point. Sleep is still very deep.
• 6:30am – 7:30am (typically with sunrise) – Sharp spike in blood pressure, followed by a reduction in melatonin secretion (a hormone which makes you feel tired). This causes sleep to lighten, metabolism to slightly increase, and you may naturally wake up around this period.
• 8am – 9am – during this period of time a bowel movement is likely, and testosterone levels are at their highest of the cycle.
• 10am – Highly alert, the mind is very active around this time.
• 2pm – 4pm – During this period your hand eye co-ordination and reaction time are at their best.
• 5pm – Cardiovascular system is at its most efficient, and possibly as a result, muscle strength is also at its highest.
• 6pm – 7:30pm – Blood pressure and body temperature are at the highest of the cycle.
• 7:30pm – 9:30pm (typically with sunset) – Melatonin secretion is stimulated, causing to the feeling of tiredness.
• 10pm – Bowel movement is slowed down until early hours of the next morning.

If you often find yourself tired, you might not be following your natural body clock. Try to find your natural rhythm by varying the times when you go to bed and get up in the morning and what time you eat your meals. If you follow your body clock, it might also reduce your stress levels and help you feel better on a daily basis. If you need help finding out if you’re an evening or a morning person, you can take the quiz on BBC website.