Is early bird the only one to get the worm?

Different people have different natural sleep schedules, and it's not something that's predetermined at birth. For some people, waking up early in the morning is the norm. Others may be more comfortable waking up later in the day. And still others may be able to stay up all night long without any issue. However, there are ways to change our natural sleep schedule if we want to.

Most people's sleep habits lie somewhere in between two extremes. This behavior is determined by our circadian system- a network of nerve cells located in the anterior hypothalamus- which responds to light exposure coming into our eyes. That steady rhythm helps determine the body's flow of hormones, with the broader circadian system acting like a conductor that keeps your organs working together in time. And one part of that performance is managing the body's transitions between being awake and asleep.

Now, your circadian system can't just decide when your bedtime is and knock you out. However, by tracking how much light you typically get and when in your waking hours you usually get it, the system can make predictions about when you're more likely to need sleep and prepare your body accordingly. For example, if you regularly go to bed around 10pm, the system will start producing sleep-inducing melatonin around two hours before then so your body knows it's time for bed. So if this rhythm is molded by our sleep habits, can we change it just by sticking to a strict schedule? To a degree. Everyone's bodies are different, so even two people with the same sleep schedule might have different experiences based on their circadian system's hormonal quirks. For example, early birds generally flood with cortisol just before waking up but night owls often have their cortisol peak roughly 30 minutes after getting up.

On the other hand, studies on college students who lack sleep has discovered their inconsistent sleeping patterns weaken the whole circadian system in them. Less effective when circadian rhythms are disrupted synchronizing organ performance and poses health concerns such as immune system vulnerabilities and metabolic issues. But light hygiene may be equally as significant as sleep hygiene, achieving adequate contrast between the bright sun and the darker night.

If you usually stay awake during daylight hours, make an effort to go outdoors as early as you can to train your body to be active and attentive. It can be challenging to stick to a sleep routine that goes against your body's natural inclinations. Even if you manage to maintain it for several months, a single night of poor sleep can reset your circadian system. However, regardless of whether you are a morning person, a night owl, or fall somewhere in between, it is essential to understand that consistency is key, and there is no right or wrong time to wake up or go to bed.

In addition to the points mentioned above, it is important to acknowledge that trauma, regardless of its nature or intensity, can significantly disrupt your sleep patterns. It has the potential to completely throw off your sleep schedule, to the point where sleep may become almost non-existent. For individuals who have experienced trauma, maintaining a regular sleep routine can be extremely challenging, even for just a few nights. This difficulty is particularly pronounced if a significant portion of the traumatic events occurred during nighttime.

So finally we cannot conclude who will be more active or most tired, but what human body needs is ample rest, be it be night or day time.

Have a nice sleep and clear skin!!!