Can you change your sleep schedule?
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An early bird rises with the sun, springing out of bed abuzz with energy. Meanwhile, a night owl groggily rises much later, not hitting their stride until late in the day. How many people are truly night owls or early birds? And are our sleep schedules predetermined at birth, or can we change them? Explore how our circadian systems act as internal clocks to keep our bodies functioning properly.
Additional Resources for you to Explore
If you're looking to improve your physical and mental health, examining your sleep patterns is an excellent place to start. Studies have shown that disturbances to the circadian rhythm can causes hormonal fluctuations and alter the body's metabolism. It can also have a significant impact on your mood and is linked to increased rates of depression.
Of course, there is a big difference between humans' natural fluctuations in sleep schedules and diagnosable circadian rhythm disorders that affect your ability to operate in the world. To learn more about the causes and symptoms of disordered sleep-wake cycles, read this article from the Cleveland Clinic.
Whether you suffer from disordered sleep patterns, or simply want to adjust your sleep schedule, here is some scientific advice on how to slowly transition your body into a new circadian rhythm. This article about how to adjust to daylight-saving time may also prove useful to the many of us who struggle with the annual time shift. But before you go about changing your sleep patterns, it would be best to first learn more about your personal "chronotype," or your body's natural sleep inclinations. Are you a "lion" who is early to bed and early to rise, or more of a "wolf" who prefers sleeping until noon? Take this quiz to find out.
Of course, there is a big difference between humans' natural fluctuations in sleep schedules and diagnosable circadian rhythm disorders that affect your ability to operate in the world. To learn more about the causes and symptoms of disordered sleep-wake cycles, read this article from the Cleveland Clinic.
Whether you suffer from disordered sleep patterns, or simply want to adjust your sleep schedule, here is some scientific advice on how to slowly transition your body into a new circadian rhythm. This article about how to adjust to daylight-saving time may also prove useful to the many of us who struggle with the annual time shift. But before you go about changing your sleep patterns, it would be best to first learn more about your personal "chronotype," or your body's natural sleep inclinations. Are you a "lion" who is early to bed and early to rise, or more of a "wolf" who prefers sleeping until noon? Take this quiz to find out.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator Jamie Zeitzer
- Narrator Alexandra Panzer
- Director Avi Ofer
- Sound Designer André Aires
- Composer André Aires
- Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
- Produced by Abdallah Ewis
- Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
- Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
- Fact-Checker Charles Wallace
