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.
