social jetlag

2 articles with this tag

Social jetlag refers to the misalignment between an individual's biological clock and their social obligations, such as work or school schedules. This discrepancy often results from staying up late and sleeping in on weekends, leading to a shift in sleep patterns that can disrupt the body's natural circadian rhythm. The effect of social jetlag on sleep quality is significant, as it can lead to sleep deprivation, increased fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. To achieve better sleep, it is important to maintain a consistent sleep schedule throughout the week, aligning social activities with the body's natural sleep-wake cycle to minimize the impact of social jetlag.

Posts

A group of people are dancing in a dark room with neon lights

Social Jetlag: The Silent Disruptor of Modern Life

Social jetlag is the discrepancy between your biological clock, which dictates when you naturally want to sleep and wake, and your social clock, driven by obligations like early work meetings or school bells. It’s most noticeable when your sleep schedule shifts between weekdays and weekends. For instance, if you’re up at 6 a.m. during the week but sleep until 9 a.m. on Saturdays, that three-hour difference creates social jetlag. This misalignment tricks your body into feeling like it’s in a different time zone, even though you haven’t traveled.

A full moon in a starry night sky

Global Sleep Patterns: A Simplified Study Breakdown

Sleep is a universal need, but how we sleep can depend on where we live. A fascinating study, published as "Country differences in nocturnal sleep variability" (Study Source), explored how sleep patterns vary across 35 countries. By analyzing over 50 million nights of sleep data from more than 220,000 people using Oura Ring wearable devices, researchers uncovered how culture, lifestyle, and location shape our sleep. This article breaks down the study’s purpose, methods, findings, and implications in a way that’s easy to understand, offering insights into the global diversity of sleep.