Losing an Hour of Sleep

This last weekend we lost an hour of sleep. I have noticed that quite a few people have been complaining about their energy throughout the day since the time change. This only points to the fact that our bodies function in a rhythm and sleep is a vital part of that rhythm (and for those of you who are wondering, I did not write this at 3am, I was asleep at 3am).

Our hormonal system is what sends the signals throughout the body telling it what to do on a cellular level, and this system works on a very precise rhythm throughout the day and night. When this rhythm is disrupted or altered it changes the way you feel and your body composition. Many people are complaining about changes in the way they feel after losing only one hour of sleep. If one hour can make that big of a difference what do you think chronically under sleeping can do to you.

The other factor to consider with the time change is that you were forced to wake up at a different time. Most sleep experts agree that the most important factor with sleep is that you wake up at the same time every morning. When you sleep in on the weekends it has the same effect as a time change, it throws your system out of rhythm. Most people will tell you that when they sleep in on the weekends that they feel more tired than if they had woken up at their usual time. The better option is to wake up at the same time on the weekends and take a nap if necessary.