Have you ever chased a sunset? Anywhere on Earth, you can chase sunsets. It is a really fun way to get your circadian rhythm in sync. You can do it from a car while you are ill and go as slow or as fast as the road will allow. Make your healing tools fun so you do them more often. Let’s go chase a sunset.
Circadian Rhythm
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle. They respond primarily to light and darkness in an organism’s environment. Sleeping at night and being awake during the day is an example of a light-related circadian rhythm.
~ NIH, Circadian Rhythm
Benefits of Getting In Sync
Increased exposure to sunlight may help to reduce the physiological, cognitive and health consequences of circadian disruption.
In one sentence you have one of the biggest hints ever to healing. Fix circadian disruption!!!
Keeping It Simple
We want to be awake during the day, exposed to natural light, and asleep at night, in the dark, for our body to sync into its natural rhythms.
With the invention of electricity, we are staying up later and later. Add a computer and we tend to stay up even later. It simply is not good for us, especially during chronic illness.
A week of camping would easily reset your circadian rhythm. Chances are during chronic illness, that is not going to happen.
Chasing Sunsets
A super duper fun experience, which happens to help synch your circadian rhythm, is chasing sunsets.
- Find your local sunset time
- Leave your house 20-30 minutes before sunset
- Start driving TOWARD THE SUNSET (it sets in the West)
- Chase the sunset until it sets right at the horizon
- Time to turn around and head back home
- Your body is now prepared for your bedtime routine
The sunset helps your body know that it is time to settle down, release the correct hormones, calm the heartbeat, slow the breathing. This allows your body to go into a deeper sleep and receive restorative sleep.
Restorative sleep is a time for our body to restore and heal. Each organ has
Dig Deeper, Learn More
Circadian Rhythm Science
- Entrainment of the Human Circadian Clock to the Natural Light-Dark Cycle ~ PMID: 23910656
- Circadian Dysregulation Research DATABASE ~ GreenMedInfo
HEALTH COACH DISCLAIMER: Health/Wellness coaching is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition. It is not intended to substitute for the advice, treatment and/or diagnosis of a qualified licensed professional. Trained and certified Health Coaches may not make any medical diagnoses, claims and/or substitute for your personal physician’s care. As your health/wellness coach I do not provide a second opinion or in any way attempt to alter the treatment plans or therapeutic goals/recommendations of your personal physician. It is my role to partner with you to provide ongoing support and accountability as you create an action plan to meet and maintain your health goals.
