If you’ve noticed that you tend to feel energised and drowsy around the same times every day, this is your circadian rhythm or internal body clock at work. It ensures our mind and body can recharge and be ready to tackle the day. But more than that, it controls how well we sleep, our hormones and eating habits. And if it gets knocked out of kilter by modern pressures such as stress or the demands of relationships and work, both your physical and mental health can suffer. Here’s how to ensure you stay in tune with your internal timekeeper and feel more vital and alive.
HOW DO CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS WORK?
They’re like an internal clock that runs in the background of your brain, governed by a complex system of nerves to keep you running to a roughly 24-hour cycle, with regular waves of sleepiness and alertness. Light is the main regulator of this pattern and is picked up by nerve receptors behind your eyes.