We all experience jetlag when we travel on long flights. Some of us find it difficult to get up and go early for work or school. Why are we asked to take medicines at certain times of the day or before and after food? This is all due to our Biorhythms or circadian rhythms. Delna Mistry Anand tells us all we need to know.
You’ve probably heard the terms circadian rhythms, biological rhythms, chronobiology, or body clocks, but they are not usually explained. Becoming aware of these waves or biorhythm cycles helps us to feel more grounded, more accepting and better prepared:
So How Do You Know If Your Biorhythm is Out of Balance?
When our biorhythms are not functioning well, we face:
- Sleep disruption
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Increased appetite
- Difficulty losing weight
- Reduced mental concentration
- Not healing quickly from an injury, illness or an intense exercise
How Can You Restore Your Biorhythm?
German Scientist Jurgen Aschoff coined the term ‘zeitgeber’, which means ‘time-keeper’ or ‘synchronizer’. As per Aschoff, the best way to strengthen our biorhythm is to strengthen our ‘zeitgebers’. Though we resist routine in order to allow flexibility in our schedules, what our body truly needs is a set routine. This helps to establish a predictable pattern of hormone release and set our body clocks.
These zeitgebers include the basic mantras:
- Sleep and wake up and get natural sunlight at the same time each day.
- Eat your meals at the same time each day, and avoid snacking at unusual hours. Avoid fads, think long term and sustainability.
- Stretch your body, add regular movement and mobility exercises.
- Most importantly, understand that life is a series of peaks and troughs. One minute you’ll be touching the skies and the next minute you’re flat on the ground. That’s just how life is; it doesn’t function standing in one spot. Just recognize this great cycle of life, it’s impermanence and what each phase brings to you.
- Delna Mistry Anand is a Well-being & NLP Life Coach