Circadian Rhythms – The Circle of Life!

Joining the 5 am club was a revelation! I was astonished to discover a bustling community of early risers from all corners of the world, determined to conquer the wee hours of the morning. It’s fascinating to observe how every culture reveres the Circadian Rhythms and goes to great lengths to sync up with the natural flow of the day.

Circadian Rhythm is the internal clock in our brain that regulates control functions like body temperature, sleep, and hormonal changes and is most affected by light. Sunlight tells our body what time it is and when to perform certain functions. Circadian Rhythms are also tied to the regulation of blood sugar and cholesterol, bipolar disorder, depression, and neuro-degenerative diseases. It also influences our immune system, DNA repair processes, and the effectiveness of cancer treatment.

“We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe atomically.” – Neil DeGrasse Tyson

If your internal clock is so powerful, then why is it so hard to wake up in the morning? This is due to a circadian pattern called chronotype. It is the biological tendency to deviate from a 24-hour cycle. Factors that influence your internal clock in addition to sunlight are exercise routine, hormones, stress, diet, and certain medications you might be taking.

In our scriptures, ancient scientists (Sages) recognized this and gave it a lot of importance by just weaving these good habits as a part of our daily routine, called “Dincharya”  in Ayurved.

They recognized that certain times of the day are better suited for a certain type of work/activity. This is because of the subtle vibrations that are present in the environment during these times.

There are three categories of vibrations – Sattva, Raja, and Tama.

• Sattva Time – 96 minutes before Sunrise (lasting up to 48 minutes) is called Brahma Murtha – considered as the best time for studying, writing, meditating, or mastering a skill – You can become whatever you wish to become!
• Raja times of the day – Typically after 6 am to 6 pm – Most suited for business and family-related activities. Something that inspires action passion or achieving goals!
• Tama times of the day – Typically 6 pm to 3.30 am in the night – best used for sleep and rejuvenation. In absence of the Sun, the vibrations are heaviest during this time.

Some simple habits go a long way in helping us maintain our health effortlessly:

• Soak in some sunlight early in your day to reinforce your biological cues.
• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
• Exercise during the day to make sleeping at night easier and reinforce your waking hours.
• Avoid caffeine after 12 p.m. to help you fall asleep naturally.
• Avoid artificial light from electronic devices 1 hour before bed.

By Following these natural rhythms, we are in sync with nature, helping us be at our best with minimum efforts!