Mindful

The Science of Deep Sleep

There’s a master clock inside your head. Tucked deep inside your brain, this expert timekeeper keeps all of the cells in your body running smoothly, protects you from chronic disease, and helps you have deep, rejuvenating sleep. To keep these systems ticking along, this internal clock relies on a steady diet of healthy habits and mindful routines.

Unfortunately, steadiness and routine can be hard to come by, especially since overload and uncertainty seem to be the hallmarks of 2020. Many of us are navigating strained relationships due to lack of physical proximity (or political proximity), souped-up tech algorithms leading us down information rabbit holes, and a generalized din of dread caused by the pandemic.

In the best of times, stress can interrupt our sleep patterns and cause us to lose hold of the daily habits and rhythms that keep us healthy. In today’s culture of disruption, it’s even more important that we create daily habits that support our well-being so we can get rejuvenating sleep and allow our minds to remain receptive and open in order to meet the unique challenges of the COVID era.

What most of us may not realize is how nearly all of our cells, tissues, and organs rely on internal daily rhythms, or circadian clocks, to keep our bodies running smoothly and in peak health under the watchful eye of the master clock. And those internal daily clocks rely on routines and timing in order to keep ticking for our optimal health.

The master clock is headquartered in the supra-chiasmatic nuclei (SCN) in the brain’s hypothalamus. There are peripheral clocks located all over the body—in the heart,

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Mindful

Mindful1 min read
Creating BRAVE Space at Work
There is consensus among those who study organizational psychology that compassion at work matters. Workplaces are not devoid of emotion, nor are they places where we can check our personal baggage at the door. When managers and colleagues learn to m
Mindful2 min read
Raising Kids Who Thrive
Charm Words—an award-winning daily affirmations podcast for children of color—is expanding its reach with the launch of the first-ever Spanish daily affirmations podcast for children. “Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, and Lati
Mindful3 min read
Connect With Your Brave Heart
1 Start by finding a comfortable seat. Start to feel your breath coming into your body. Place your right hand on your belly, feeling your breath there, and put your left hand on your heart, feeling your heartbeat. Honor these two functions that keep

Related Books & Audiobooks