What Is A Circadian Rhythm & How To Find Yours

You’ve probably heard of circadian rhythms but what exactly are they and how do they help us sleep?

They might sound like the name of a dodgy 1990s boy band, but circadian rhythms form the structure of our sleep. “Circadian rhythms are biological rhythms [in our bodies] that repeat approximately every 24 hours are known as,” says NEOM’s expert Sleep Consultant, Nick Witton. “The circadian system sends an alerting signal to the body during the day and a sleeping signal during the night, promoting a consolidated night of sleep.”

What Is A Circadian Rhythm?

In short, circadian rhythms are our day and night internal body clocks, telling us when to be awake and when to be asleep. However, what should be a natural process isn’t always straightforward in today’s world. “People in the modern, industrialised society spend up to 90% of their time indoors,” says Nick. Without enough exposure to daylight our internal body clocks miss important cues when to be ‘on’ and ‘off’ – which can lead to negatively affecting our sleep.

Daylight and darkness are the biggest influences on each of our circadian rhythms. The actual definition of a circadian rhythm is a 24-hour cycle of biological activity every day that is impacted by frequent environmental changes like the passing of day and night.

The majority of living things, including plants and animals have circadian rhythms. Nearly all human tissues and organs have their own circadian rhythms, which allow them to be synchronised with the day and night cycle.

Why Are Circadian Rhythms Important?

A properly functioning circadian rhythm helps keep our body’s healthy, and happy. Overall, circadian rhythms are exactly what we need for good wellbeing. And as you know, wellbeing is everything to us here at NEOM.

Benefits of a healthy circadian rhythm:

• A great sleep routine.
• Helps regulate temperature.
• Aids happy hormones.
• A healthy appetite.
• Helps the digestive system.

Circadian rhythms can also affect our mood; several studies have found that habitual disruption of circadian rhythms is related to mental health issues and that depression has a stronger association with interrupted sleep than actual sleep deprivation.

So, what can we do to get back into our natural sleep groove and feel our best? Here are four things to help your circadian rhythm.

1. Try waking up at the same time (even at weekends)

Rising at the same time every day, or as close to it as possible, is “one of the most powerful anchors to keep our circadian rhythm functioning regularly,” says Nick. Trying to catch up on missed sleep at the weekends can have the opposite effect and put our circadian rhythms out of whack, leading to something called ‘social jetlag’.

You’re not alone, it’s estimated that two-thirds of the global population suffer from social jetlag. A weekend’s worth of social jet lag is equivalent to flying from Paris to New York on Friday and then flying back on Monday – without any of the fun bits!

But waking up at the same time, even on the weekends, doesn’t have to feel like a chore. One of the best ways to make sure you’re well rested and up at the same time every day is to make sure you go to bed at the same time in the evenings, too.

And to make this happen – you need a bedtime routine that makes you excited to jump into bed! Our Perfect Night’s Sleep Pillow Mist is one of our top five hero products. We cannot recommend this luxurious mixture of English lavender, chamomile and patchouli enough.

2. Work near a window

Even if you work indoors you can get a daylight fix. One study showed that office workers sitting close to windows exhibited more activity overall and slept, on average, 46 minutes longer at night than colleagues who worked in windowless offices.

For a double energy and mood booster, go out for a walk. “Daytime light exposure can help to improve mood by correcting abnormal circadian timing relative to sleep/wake behaviour,” says Nick. As we’re on the mood boosting topic, let us show you exactly how to boost your mood through scents.

We have a whole collection of products and scents dedicated to kickstarting your happy vibes. And we’d be fools not to tell you all about our Scents To Make You Feel Good Travel Toolkit. Perfect for busy folk who need those much-apprecated happy vibes.

Our popular Wellbeing Travel Toolkit includes:

• Calming Pen.

The power-in-your-pocket rollerball helps with instant de-stressing.

• Perfect Night’s Sleep Pillow Mist (30ml / 1.02 fl oz).

Create an instant calming haven at home or away with a spritz of this on pillows and bed linen.

• Uplifting Hand Balm (30ml / 1.01 fl oz)

For a mood boost and dose of skin-loving shea butter.

• Great Day Wonder Balm (12g).

A naturally-powered pick-me-up for skin, lips, and your mood.

3. Get into a consistent routine

To help your circadian rhythm, let’s get that evening routine in check. “Try to eat and exercise at roughly the same times every day,” Nick advises. This is particularly important he says, if your schedule doesn’t permit you to get a sufficient amount of sleep. “Keeping your other routines consistent offers a cue for your circadian rhythm to stay on track.”

And for the best nightly routine, look no further than our Perfect Night’s Sleep Set…

It’s full of products that promote healthy sleep. This set is perfect for anyone who struggles with their sleep routine and makes an excellent present if you’re hoping to show someone how much you care!

The Perfect Night’s Sleep Set includes:

• Perfect Night's Sleep Pillow Mist 30ml
• Perfect Night's Sleep Facial Cream 10ml
• The NEOM Perfect Night's Sleep Plan

4. Move in the mornings

Studies have shown that aerobic exercise in the morning or afternoon stimulates earlier melatonin release and shifts the circadian rhythm. “For people who exercise outdoors, morning exercise may have the added benefit of exposure to sunlight,” Nick adds. “This helps entrain circadian rhythms and makes it easier to fall asleep early.”

Find Everything Else You Need To Sleep Soundly

Hopefully, you’re now more informed about all things circadian rhythm and ready for a perfect night’s sleep…

Once you’ve stocked up on your favourite NEOM Scent To Sleep™ Collection, don’t forget to explore the rest of our collections.

Shop the complete Better Sleep with NEOM collection today to find your next favourite companion for a good night’s sleep.

Interested in learning more? Check out… The NEOM Guide To Mood Boosting Scents? Common Sleep Myths… Busted NEOM’s Top Tips For Sleeping In The Heat