7 Steps To Round-The-Clock Energy

by Janet Ungless Picture this: It’s the late afternoon, and you’re struggling to keep your eyes open, wishing there were a couch nearby where you could curl up for a nap. Sound familiar? It should—according to science, we’re hardwired for those post-lunch energy dips, which stem from a drop in our core body temperature that naturally happens in the afternoon. The temperature drop then triggers the release of the sleep hormone melatonin. It’s a normal part of our body’s internal clock, known as our circadian rhythm. While a visit to the office vending machine or another cup of coffee might perk you up in the short term, it sets you up for another crash as soon as the sugar rush wears off. But just because we’re wired for shifts throughout the day doesn’t mean the afternoon slump is unavoidable. The trick is to keep your energy at full tilt throughout the day. Here’s your morning-till-evening plan: MORNING 1. Don’t hit snooze Those extra 10 minutes actually send you back into your sleep cycle, making the wake-up process harder—which saps your energy for the rest of the day. A more consistent wake-up time, on the other hand, maintains the body’s internal clock, which allows you to wake up with more energy. 2. Let the sun in “Early exposure to bright light helps optimize the body’s wake-up processes,” says Michael Terman, PhD, director of the Center for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news