Unable to sleep? Feeling moody? It could be due to a disrupted circadian rhythm.
It’s no accident that most people tend to sleep at night and are awake during the day. Our sleep-wake cycle is determined by our circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock. Your circadian rhythm is responsible for guiding your body’s hormones, metabolism, healing, growth, and memory consolidation.
An irregular circadian rhythm can have a negative effect on a person’s ability to sleep and function properly, and can result in a number of health problems, including mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder.
3 Tips to Improve Your Sleep and Mood
1. Get a full night’s sleep. Most adults need at least 7-9 hours.
2. Get up at the same time each day, 7 days a week. A regular wake time in the morning leads to regular times of sleep onset, and helps align your circadian rhythm with your sleep-wake cycle.
3. Avoid screen time and bright lights at least 60-90 minutes before bedtime. Try activities like reading a book in dim light, listening to audiobooks, guided meditation or mindfulness talks, and soothing music.