Do you have biorhythm?

Yes you do! We all do. The circadian rhythm (or ‘biorhythm’) is the process of biological variations over 24 hours.

It is our cellular timekeeper and biological clock, which set’s the pace for physiological functions such as body temperature, blood pressure, cognition, blood sugar regulation, digestion and hormonal secretions. Circadian rhythms explain many things. It wakes us up at the usual time, even when we’re on holidays; and why our bowels are most active first thing in the morning. It’s quite amazing that the master controller of this rhythm (the suprachiasmatic nuclei) is only the size of a grain of rice! Even plants have rhythm! Plant circadian rhythms tell the plant what season it is in, and when to bloom to attract insects for pollination. Like these clever plants, given the right conditions, our internal time has the capability to match our external time. In some people however, the rhythm may be dancing out of time, resulting in many undesirable outcomes such as fatigue, weight gain, disorientation, insomnia and mood disorders. Shift work, stress, lights/TV/computer in the bedroom, jet lag and stimulants can all cause disruption to our natural rhythm. Getting morning light is imperative to ensuring your body’s internal clock is ticking along nicely by suppressing melatonin (our resident ‘sleep hormone’) production. Consequently, a morning dose of sunshine has a direct effect on performance and well-being! Obviously, there are times in our lives when sleep quality and quantity is compromised (such as having a baby, travelling, and work commitments). We can all be educated however about how important a good night’s rest is, and do the best we can given our situations. As well as getting a morning dose of sunshine, some tips on getting a good night’s rest include:

• Avoiding stimulants 4-6 hours before bed
• Being active throughout the day so your body needs physical rest at night
• Turn off the TV, phone and computer before bed and ‘unwind your mind’ without the perpetual distraction that these devices cause; and take a bath, meditate or read before bed
• Have a routine. Rest and rise more or less the same time each day
• Don’t ignore your ‘sleepy’ signals. When you feel the urge to rest at night…. Rest!

I love the saying, that “sleep is the great cycle of restoration that heals the foundations of our mind, body and soul”. Words simply cannot express the importance of good sleep; we cannot afford to meddle with our biological clocks. Society may be pushing a 24-7 tune, but it seems our body clocks still drum a much older beat. Sweet dreams! For some interesting viewing on sleep, visit http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/sleep/