Reset Your Sleep Cycle
YOUR DAILY FIT TIP
By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, Special to Lifescript
Published June 06, 2011
It’s REALLY difficult to wake up in the mornings for some people – a lot of people, in fact. We often wander through our day bleary-eyed and with dark circles under our eyes. As busy adults, we’re perpetually starved for sleep.
What’s at the root of this problem? Everyone has a circadian clock, which is an internal body clock that keeps you on a schedule. After a weekend of sleeping in, it can be really difficult to change your wake-up time to an earlier hour because your circadian clock has been programmed to sleep late and ignore the alarm clock. However, by getting to bed on time and consistently waking up at a set hour, you can reset this clock in as little as a few days.
First of all, go to bed at a reasonable hour every night. If you’re staying up late to watch your favorite shows, think about investing in TiVo and watching your programs when you actually have time (like on the weekends). Once you figure out how to get to bed at a reasonable hour, it’s time to give yourself a set time to wake up too, even on the weekends. Don’t groan – you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel when you get on a regular sleep cycle.
MY THOUGHTS
So true! Since I started walking-meaning waking up at 5am, my sleep cycle has changed. I'm actually sleepy by 8pm. That is something for someone who used to be up at 2am.
