ANCSLEEP BLOG

What is Your Circadian Rhythm?

Your circadian rhythm is your innate biological clock that helps your body function in patterns and rhythms. It regulates your natural sleep schedule, and is closely tied to both melatonin, the sleep hormone, and changes in light.

Your biological sleep clock exists in a part of your brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, which sits right behind the nerves of your eyes – hence why your clock is sensitive to light.

It is crucial for you to understand your circadian rhythm in order to build healthy sleeping habits.

What is a Circadian Rhythm?

Your circadian rhythm is like the conductor of your body's sleep orchestra. It orchestrates the perfect balance of sleep and wakefulness, with melatonin playing a key role as the sleep hormone. Nestled within the depths of your brain, specifically the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus, your biological sleep clock is strategically positioned behind the delicate nerves of your eyes. This prime location allows it to harmonize with the ebb and flow of light, effortlessly regulating melatonin production in response to changes in your external environment.

Thus, circadian rhythm disorders are often in response to your external factors:

• Extreme light conditions
• Extreme dark conditions
• Shift work
• A non-standard sleep schedule that conflicts with your work schedule, such as needing to start work at 7am but getting naturally tired at 2am

Symptoms of circadian rhythm disorders are fairly straightforward: when you want or need to sleep is when you can’t sleep. The result are insomnia symptoms and sleep deprivation.

What is Your Sleep Wake Cycle?

Your circadian rhythm acts as your internal timekeeper, orchestrating the delicate balance between sleep and wakefulness. Operating behind the scenes in your brain, it controls your natural cycle of rest and alertness, commonly referred to as your sleep-wake cycle.

Understanding your circadian rhythm is crucial in grasping the intricate workings of your body and brain, ultimately impacting the quality of your sleep. Your sleep-wake cycle, from the moment you rise to when you hit the pillow and wake again, is ideally a 24-hour cycle aligned with modern society's rhythm. However, variations exist, with your natural sleep cycle possibly spanning 26 or 22 hours.

Furthermore, your biological clock can be "shifted" earlier or later in the day, giving rise to the terms night owl and lark. It's worth noting that a significant portion, 40-70 percent, of your biological clock is predetermined by genetics. While you can attempt to adjust your clock, completely altering your sleep-wake cycle may prove unrealistic.

What is the Circadian Rhythm?

Your circadian rhythm is your biological clock. It runs in the background of your brain, managing and regulating your cycle of sleep and wakefulness. It’s also known as your sleep-wake cycle. It’s an important term to understand when trying to understand how and why your body/brain operates the way it does – understanding which can be critical to getting a good night’s rest.

Your sleep-wake cycle dictates when you rise, rest, and rise again. While the ideal circadian rhythm aligns with a 24-hour cycle, not everyone operates on this schedule. Your natural sleep pattern may lean towards 26 hours or even 22 hours, showcasing the unique diversity in how individuals function within the constraints of modern society.

Also, you biological clock may be “shifted” to earlier or later in the day, hence the terms night owl and lark. It’s important to note that research has shown that 40-70% of your biological clock is genetic, meaning that while you may be able to shift your clock, it may be unrealistic to simply adopt a new sleep-wake cycle.