Out of Sync? The Science Behind Your Circadian Rhythm
How light, nature, and daily habits influence your internal clock—and the potential impact of Daylight Saving Time.
Welcome to Spring! The days get a little warmer, the evenings last a little longer, and people start getting the garden ready for planting.
Yet one of the first signs of Spring isn’t the daffodils blooming or the spring peepers chirping. Nope. It’s that special time of year: Daylight Saving Time.
Of course, that’s a misnomer. In fact, when we spring forward, we actually “lose” an hour. Not much “saving” there. Not only that, in the United States, we set the clocks ahead the 2nd Sunday in March (that’s today!), which gives us more than a few weeks of dark mornings.
Do you find yourself feeling groggy in the AM or needing a nap in the afternoon? If you follow a clock, then Daylight Saving Time has probably disrupted your circadian rhythm. You need to get it back on track.
What Is Your Circadian Rhythm?
Your circadian rhythm is unique to you and your health. Every body has an internal clock. Based roughly on the 24-hour solar cycle, your body follows a rhythm of sleep and wakefulness. Not only that, though, your circadian rhythm also influences appetite, hormone regulation, and body temperature. (1)
Why do we need this daily cycle?
The sleep–wake cycle guides many functions of the body. This isn’t just about sleep—though that’s extremely important to health. The body is so finely tuned that each organ operates in rhythm for optimal performance. The brain stores memories, the liver undergoes a cleansing process, and the body repairs itself. (2)
While the circadian rhythm is our internal clock, environmental factors affect it, too. Light has the greatest influence, then also when we choose to eat and work.
A Study on Sleep
A study published in the journal Current Biology shows how the environment affects your rhythm. Researchers took one group of people to Colorado's Eagle's Nest Wilderness for a weekend. Another group of people stayed home. The group that spent time in nature wasn't permitted to use any source of unnatural light. They could only use the campfire and the sun. Each participant wore a watch that measured the levels of light they received. After two days, researchers conducted a series of tests. (3)
Kenneth Write, an integrative physiology professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, was the lead author on the study. He noted: (4)
"These studies suggest that our internal clock responds strongly and quite rapidly to the natural light-dark cycle... Living in our modern environments can significantly delay our circadian timing and late circadian timing is associated with many health consequences. But as little as a weekend camping trip can reset it." [emphasis added]
Setting Your Clock
Because your circadian rhythm is unique to you, you need to find strategies that work best for you and your situation. But how our circadian rhythm influences the body gives us some clues to how we can support it during this artificial time change.
Since our bodies are so sensitive to light—especially sunlight—getting outside today will be a good start to getting back on track. Avoid bright lights this evening, and turn off the electronics well before shuteye.
Check out tomorrow’s post for David Wolfe’s list of suggestions to put your circadian rhythm back on track. These tips will help with jet lag or any other time your internal clock needs a reset.
Join the David Avocado Wolfe Substack Community
This is where transformation begins — are you ready to join us?
Wolfe University
Ready to go all-in? Experience the new Wolfe University with both free and paid courses, as well as the platform for David Wolfe's Inner Circle.
David Avocado Wolfe Links
David Wolfe Website: https://www.davidwolfe.com/
Wolfe University: https://university.davidwolfe.com/
David Wolfe Shops
US: https://shop.davidwolfe.com/
UK: https://davidwolfe.uk/
Our favorite Chocolate Factory is now located in Central Florida! Please visit Butler’s Raw Chocolates! 2400 South Hopkins Avenue, Unit E, Titusville, FL 32780
Butler’s Raw Chocolates: https://butlersrawchocolates.com/
Links on this page may be affiliate links; any proceeds support the work of David Avocado Wolfe.