Every morning you wake up, go about your day (hopefully with energy…) and then night comes and you drift off to a peaceful, regenerative sleep…Wouldn't that be perfect if it happened that easily every day...

Our bodies operate like a clock, with thousands of functions being switched on and off throughout the day and night. It doesn't stop as we know, or that would be a problem...but there is a rhythm to what happens, when. These are our Circadian Rhythms, and we have been programmed with them from the beginning of time. 

Is there one clock or many clocks?

Each organ and even each cell has its own circadian clock, but we also have a master clock whose job it is to keep it all in sync. This master clock is found in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), located in the hypothalamus, in the brain. It’s a complicated process but essentially what happens is the SCN receives direct input from the eyes. And what is entering the eye…light of course. And what is the best kind of light for our natural bodies…natural light from the sun. It contains the full spectrum of wavelengths, with all the colors in just the right balance to help our bodies function optimally. Not at all like artificial lights which have far too much blue and green light and not at all in harmony with red and orange light. 

This spectral chart shows the difference very clearly between natural light from the sun, and the second diagram is artificial light from electronic devices such as smartphones and TV's.

As you can see from this diagram above, the blue light being emitted by these electronic devices is severe and not at all balanced by the other colors of the spectrum. 

How can you optimize your circadian rhythm?

A sign of a healthy, well working circadian rhythm is if you wake up at the same time (without an alarm clock) and feel sleepy at the same time, everyday. This indicates a body that is in rhythm with its environment. 

Here are 5 things to put in to practice that will help you achieve this synchronicity. 

1. Watch the sunrise

The light spectrum of the sunrise is naturally and perfectly balanced to wake us up.

- Go outside and watch the sun rise for 10-15 minutes

- If you can, stare directly at the sun (within 30 mins of it rising) or if you can’t, start at 1 minute and gradually increase a minute a day

2. Watch the sunset

The sunset has a higher proportion of red and yellow light, which is calming to the brain.

- Go outside and watch the sun set

- You should be able to start directly at the sun at this time because the UV is extremely low or non-existent

How will I feel better with these tips?

By following these 5 tips every day not only you will feel immediate benefits like – improved sleep, better brain function, higher productivity - but longer term, the benefits are profound - protection from chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and neurological conditions from depression to Alzheimer's.