Does the Morning Sun Greet You or Annoy You?
By Tom Herrin
Since we are a nation made up of all kinds of people, we obviously have many different personalities. This also means that we have all kinds of different biological clocks. If you are one of those who jumps up out of bed ready to take on all comers first thing in the morning, you are probably pretty productive in those early hours. On the other hand, if you are one who would rather pull the covers over your head first thing but feel energized later in the day, you are probably one of those considered to be night owls. Neither is necessarily better or worse, but they are definitely different.
We Have Always Had Variety
We may think of those in olden times as being up early and in bed early as well. This may have been the case for dedicated farmers, but if you will look at many others, you will find that they were often up late at night. How many of the great thinkers of the past had that early schedule. It may not have been all that many. For sure, those who had interests in astronomy had to stay up to observe the stars and night sky. Even many of those in biblical stories were up well into the night. The brain still works for all, it is just turned on more at various times. Nothing much has changed in the past hundred or thousand years, we have simply diversified our society.
You've Got Rhythm
This internal clock that each of us has is usually called circadian rhythm. It is what tells us when to sleep best and when to work. It is not one of those that is not of choice as much as natural biological patterns. Many people feel that those who need to make a change should just go to bed earlier and get up earlier. It is not that easy, and many who try to make those kinds of changes may experience problems. Safety and efficiency may be compromised.
It Is Possible to Make Changes but Slowly
If we decide to change our routine, we must do it with caution. Moving our times a little at a time over a longer period of time may be best. Adjusting the alarm to something like 15 minutes each time is reasonable. Trying to make the adjustment too fast may result in issues involving mental performance. Choosing a work schedule that fits with your personal clock may be even easier than trying to change yourself.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Newnan, Ga.