Source: Time
Dr. Breus is a board-certified sleep specialist and the author of The Power of When
When you do things is important to your health and wellness
In our relentless quest to live healthier, happier, longer, more productive lives, we often overlook a powerful tool that’s right within us: the human body’s internal sense of timing. When it comes to health and wellness, most of the literature focuses on the what, how, and how much, with little focus on the when. Have you ever noticed that there are certain times of day when you do things better than others?
Our bodies are designed to coordinate the timing of almost all the aspects of life—sleep, work, sex, communication, even having fun. The body has a master biological clock, which keeps the body’s other clocks in sync. This master bio clock relies heavily on external cues of light and darkness, delivered along a pathway that travels from the optic nerve.
Clocks are different person-to-person based on a newly discovered PER3 gene. People with certain lengths of the PER3 genes prefer morning-centric activity, while those with other lengths prefer activity later on. Historically, people have been divided into three categories called chronotypes based on preference: “morningness,” “eveningness,” and “in betweenness.” My clinical experience has shown me an additional type: the troubled sleeper, or the insomniac. I created avatars for four distinct chronotypes: lions (the early risers), bears (the in-betweeners) wolves (the late-night people) and dolphins (the highly intelligent troubled sleepers). Based on your chronotype, there are bio rhythms (often based on hormone fluctuation throughout the day) attached to everything you do.
Categories: Biology, Health & Fitness, The Muslim Times