No, I am not talking that time sensitive baby craving urge women experience. Rather, I’m talking about that internal clock we all have. Today, we celebrate National Biological Clock Day for one reason – our health.
Men and women alike have a daily biological clock. Formally known as our circadian rhythm, our biological clock is all about our sleep-wake cycles. It is our body’s natural drive to regulate our system by monitoring light, temperature and other environmental factors. 
In today’s crazy, technologically saturated world, it is easy to mess up our biological clock. And when our biological clock is messed up, it negatively influences things like alertness, energy levels, hunger and motivation.
If we removed technology, just went to bed when we were tired and got up when we woke, our bodies would find the correct natural rhythm. However, living that way isn’t realistic for most of us.
If your sleep-wake patterns have gotten out of whack, try these ideas to get it back to a more natural rhythm.
- Get up at the same time every day, even on the weekends.
- Be strict and protect your “bedtime.” Create a relaxing routine and go to bed about the same time every day.
- Shut off technology 30-60 minutes before bedtime so your mind can start to relax. Read a book, have a cup of tea, or connect with your spouse.
- Avoid napping for long periods – it will throw off your evening sleep pattern.
- Minimize night light. Turn the lights down in your house an hour or so before you go to bed. While sleeping, keep your surroundings as dark as possible. Dim or cover your alarm clock so its glow isn’t disruptive.
- Avoid eating or exercising too close to bedtime. Especially watch out for caffeine and nicotine since both are stimulants and can keep you awake.
Happy sleeping!