People are not machines with uniform, unwavering energy levels no matter the time of day. Firstly, bear in mind that there is nothing innately superior about being a “morning person,” and you won’t magically be more productive just because you forced yourself to wake up early or get more things done before lunchtime. As we’ve seen, this advice works for some chronotypes, but not everyone will actually be more productive this way.
The old “early to bed, early to rise” wisdom is not for everyone, in other words. Rather, you need to look at the times when your body is naturally more awake and make sure you’ve scheduled your work to coincide with that. It doesn’t matter whether this is comfortably done in the morning or almost midnight—if it fits your chronotype and energy levels, it works.
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Peter Hollins is a bestselling author, human psychology researcher, and a dedicated student of the human condition.
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The first step is to understand your sleep biology, and the next is to learn to work with it so you’re waking up refreshed each morning and with a full “tank.” Your circadian rhythm is your body’s own inbuilt sense of when to wake and when to sleep. Parts of your body perceive and respond to changes in light around you and move through cycles, with physical and behavioral changes occurring over a twenty-four-hour period.
Interfere with this cycle and you push against your body’s own physiological “clock.” A common way we all do this is to surround ourselves with harsh, artificial light at times of the day that our ancestors would have spent in darkness or low light. Your rhythms are set by light in the environment. If you’re in the habit of using LED displays on devices a few hours before bed, starting to phase them out can do wonders for your sleep quality. If you must use these devices, install apps that turn down the blue light and amp up the yellow, or else dial down the screen brightness completely.
Just as fading light signals bedtime to your body, bright light indicates that it’s time to wake up. When you wake up in the morning, make a habit of exposing yourself to bright sunlight as soon as possible after you wake to kickstart your system. In fact, when it comes to sleep, routine and consistency are the goal. Pay attention to the times you wake up and go to sleep, and maintain a fixed routine, making sure to keep your sleeping hours properly dark and your waking hours as bright as possible. Do everything you can to cut down on blinking lights in your bedroom, and invest in blackout curtains, especially in summer. Keep naps to a minimum (twenty minutes at most) and time them for early afternoon, no later.
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Mental and emotional factors play heavily into the quality of sleep, too. We know that a poor night’s sleep will leave you feeling bad during the day, but the experiences you have in your waking life can carry over to your sleep, too. In fact, many people’s sleep disorders are vicious cycles and reinforcing behaviors that keep poor sleep habits going.
Do whatever you can to reduce stress in your life. Take frequent breaks throughout the day. Even a five-minute pause to meditate quietly or focus on deep breathing is enough to lower your cortisol levels and help you find your center again. One of the best things you can do to improve your sleep quality is to have a daily bedtime ritual you can depend on. You can decide on exactly what will work for you, but the important thing is that it’s a habit, and it’s something that signals your body that it’s time for sleep.
Do stressful, energetic things earlier in the day and save quieter, slower activities for before bed. Avoid excess stimulation (like exercise, stressful work, emotional arguments or upsetting TV) in the evening and do things that calm you down. A hot bath, visualization, a massage, yoga, a little light reading, or taking the time to do a little beauty ritual will all put you in a relaxed state of mind.
If you’re someone who has difficulty with insomnia or poor sleep hygiene, a big part of your ritual will be to program yourself with a more relaxed attitude toward sleep in general. Deliberately take the time to wind down and empty your thoughts. Tell yourself it’s not the end of the world if you don’t sleep properly; just relax, take your time, and rest. If you haven’t fallen asleep after around twenty minutes, get up out of bed and go somewhere else to do a calming activity. A cup of tea, doodling in a journal, or listening to a quiet podcast are all great ideas.
Insomnia can feed on itself if you allow yourself to worry that you’re not sleeping well. Your attitude toward sleep is just as important as the more practical factors. Actively remind yourself, “It’s okay if I don’t fall asleep. I’ll still get rest even if I just hang out here for a while.” Don’t put pressure on yourself to “sleep right.” What could be more un-relaxing than that?
If you can’t fall asleep, don’t linger in bed or else you may create negative associations with that space. It’s a good idea to reserve this area for sleep and sex solely. You might find that spending a little time making your own “sleep sanctuary” goes a long way toward telling your unconscious mind what to expect when you get into bed. Choose relaxing, decluttered décor. Good-quality bedding, blackout curtains, breathable pajamas, and possibly sleep masks and earplugs will do wonders. Ensure your mattress is firm and doesn’t keep you overly hot, and that the room is quiet, dark, and slightly colder than you’d normally like. Make sure there’s good air flow without any drafts. Do something about snoring partners and/or pets who hog all the space! Get yourself a pillow you love and you’re ready to go.
Finally, if you’re a frequent flyer or find yourself sleeping in hotels often, take some time to figure out ways to mediate the disruption. Over-the-counter melatonin pills can help with jet lag, and the occasional sleeping pill or natural remedy can help break a bad sleep cycle—when used only very occasionally, that is.
Overall, there’s a lot you can do to honor your natural limits and needs and work with your biology rather than fight it. (In case you haven’t noticed, the latter never works out well anyway.) And this goes beyond just ensuring you get better sleep. Your circadian rhythm is about the complete ebb and flow of your energy throughout the day. There are certain times you’re going to be more active and energized, and others you’re going to be more mellow. Knowing when these times occur means you can schedule your life to better fit your natural cycles.
People are not machines with uniform, unwavering energy levels no matter the time of day. Firstly, bear in mind that there is nothing innately superior about being a “morning person,” and you won’t magically be more productive just because you forced yourself to wake up early or get more things done before lunchtime. As we’ve seen, this advice works for some chronotypes, but not everyone will actually be more productive this way.
The old “early to bed, early to rise” wisdom is not for everyone, in other words. Rather, you need to look at the times when your body is naturally more awake and make sure you’ve scheduled your work to coincide with that. It doesn’t matter whether this is comfortably done in the morning or almost midnight—if it fits your chronotype and energy levels, it works.
