A Night Owl’s Guide to Staying Up All Night

What to Do When You Can’t Sleep

By: burgundy bug

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Total Solar Eclipse

Source: Total Solar Eclipse | Penelope Peru Photography P³

Sleep disorders are a global epidemic, but they aren’t always the culprit behind why you might have trouble catching winks night after night.

Circadian Rhythm

Everyone has an internal 24-hour clock known as the Circadian Rhythm. This is responsible for the hormones released throughout your sleep and wake cycles, which regulate how alert you feel.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, there are two major energy dips that occur during the circadian rhythm that vary depending on whether you’re a night owl or a morning person. One happens during the witching hour, while the other occurs just after lunch. When you’re sleep deprived, these dips are felt are more intensely.

Although the circadian rhythm is regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), according to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, it’s also impacted by light. When it’s dark, your eyes signal to the SCN to release melatonin, a hormone that induces drowsiness.

Light isn’t the only factor that could skew your circadian rhythm. Jet lag, shift work, and a number of sleep disorders can completely throw off your body’s clock.