Do you find yourself constantly tired at work? If so, there is a good chance you stayed out too late the night before and are being affected by Social Jet Lag. We all know the struggle of trying to balance our work life, social life and sleep schedule; it can feel like there are just not enough hours in the day. We have all found ourselves asking the same questions; should I go meet my friends for a few drinks after work? Should I go out this weekend? Should I ditch all my plans and go home to bed? Okay, maybe we are pushing it on the last one a little.
We get it, you work hard and need to let loose! We’re not saying never go out, but sleep is so important for your health. Social Jet Lag is when your sleep patterns and alarms during the week differ from those on the weekend. Even just one extra hour you’re out with your friends can cause Social Jet Lag and increase your chances of heart disease by 11%. Social Jet Lag effects your circadian rhythm and can also cause mood swings, fatigue, and obesity. Furthermore, lack of sleep can worsen your immune system.
Don’t worry too much though, we have a few tips to help you get your circadian rhythm back on track. Make sure you are getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night, be flexible with your schedule - especially at work (having flexible hours at work and being able to come in and leave when you work best is ideal), purchase comfortable and supportive pillow to help you sleep and set an alarm for every morning, but make sure you are reasonable with your alarm on weekends too.