Still wondering why a good night’s sleep makes a big difference? Well, perhaps this keynote from Jessa Gamble can somehow brief you on the reason why. Health is an immediate answer for this of course but if you want a more straight-to-the-point explanation, one of the things that will be affected is your body clock.

Sharing her research with some folks, Jessa bares how quality rest time is a key element to productivity and more importantly one’s health.

Jessa bares that the sleeping patterns of people living in environments without any artificial light at all experience true wakefulness during non-resting hours due to the high quality of sleep they get in the evening.

Hence, Jessa Gamble appeals to her audience and concerned readers that in a time of 24-hour business days, longer work periods and night shifts, we should somehow offset the damaging effects these instances would have on our body.

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Here is another neat solution for the sleepyheads who have a hard time getting up from sleep. While alarm clocks have their way of waking you up emphatically, the Lumie Body Clock Starter carries something saner.

This is of course through its feature which slowly wakes you up over a half-hour period by simulating the sunrise or beep just in case you have pillows or earplugs used to enjoy a stress-free and non-disturbing slumber. A bonus comes in a nightlight, something that should come in handy in case you are the type who gets up at night to grab a bite or head on to the john.

You can get the Lumie Body Clock Starter over at Firebox for about $93.

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Just like round the clock workers, police personnel have their share of working on shifts as well. The study consisted of police officers participating in either an online or an on-site screening (n = 4,957) and monthly follow-up surveys (n = 3,545 officers) between July 2005 and December 2007

The study revealed that about 40.4% of the participating cops were found positive for the said sleep disorder. 33.6% of that were found positive for obstructive sleep apnea and 6.5% suffering from insomnia.

Apparently the shifting issue can be singled out as the culprit. A change in the regular body clock does have dire effects and from the looks of it, even the cops are not spared. Let us hope though that the margin for error does not get imperiled by all of this too.

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Everyone wants subtle sleep. The problem is, how do you go about it? While many people are known to be hyperactive and cramming to get their daily routine done, the secret perhaps lies on the amount of daylight you are getting.

A study has shown that getting the right amount of daylight helps your body clock. And from there, following a routine helps program your mind and body know that when the lights go out, obviously referring to the time and date.

Aside from these, other variables that include taking sedatives, distractions like gadgets and TV can offer you better sleep. In short, don’t be a slacker. Being idle may be comforting but it may eventually hit you when bed time comes.

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Daylight Savings Time is here again and people need to adjust again. This doesn’t only include setting your clocks to the new time frame but also conditioning your body clock to new sleeping habits where clocks will be adjusting to one hour in advance.

This takes place at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday in March each and every year, and then reverses on the first Sunday in November every year. Like it or not, you just have to do it. Unless you are in Hawaii or Arizona, you better start adjusting those clocks to make sure you don’t end up being late for an appointment or even for work.

(Source) Smart About Health

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Just in case you are wondering, sleep debt refers to sleep you have lost due to sleep deprivation or maybe due to work. And while some people know that sleeping more on weekends may help, it takes more than that to normalize you body clock on regulated sleep. Various studies have proven this and if you want to get to the nitty gritty, it takes more than a night of extra sleep to pay off your sleep debt. It is not as easy as sleeping the whole weekend which incidentally will make you feel entirely lazy afterwards.

(Source) NY Times

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Sleep deprivation is common for people who have to work on shifts. There are a lot of factors contributing to it. But among them include that of the body clock. Normally, we are all used to standard sleep at night scenario but no thanks to the jobs that cater to different time zones, the need to earn a living despite this constraint has to be done.

The only bright note about it is that the pay is better. Companies provide night differential for taking on graveyard shift but you just have to ask yourself, is it worth it? Some say it is but other alter their body clocks which may become a health hazard if they are not careful.

There are there are 3 factors that affect employee sleep patterns:

1. Shift Length
2. Fixed vs. Rotating Shifts
3. Shift Start Times

Each have their own contributions to sleep deprivation and while many want to address the problem, it is a burden that some have to take. Shift changes practically assure you that you have to sacrifice some hours of sleep since the transition may not give the proper allowance.

As far as shift start times, it all takes getting used to. But you can be that once it is time to go to work, drowsy or sleepy employees are reporting for work which could take a while to normalize. In these cases, Coffee Anyone?

(Source) Press

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We are familiar that once the term “acupuncture” is mentioned, it entails some pins and needles going through your skin. The thought of it is surely keep you up but as far as the Sleep Partner Acupuncture Bracelet is concerned, it goes way off the needles part.

Rather, this device is supposed to help you sleep. The Sleep Partner wrist band is worn 30 minutes before you go to bed which normalizes the body clock and eventually wear you down to slumber.

But a lot of questions have been hurled at this device especially on how it can really get people to sleep. No needles? Then how can it make a person sleep? There has to be something that was left off unless this device is purely a psychological device aimed at cheating people out of their money.

It is said to cost around $30 in the market. Would it be worth it?

(Source) DVICE

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Traditionally, all employees and workers look forward to the standard 8 to 5 job. With that in mind, you just have to follow the regular sleeping pattern to which most would find their way to bed by 9 in the evening.

But for people who work on changing shifts, adjusting the sleep pattern may not be that easy. For most, drowsiness and that heavy feeling is there especially if you are fresh from a previous work shift schedule.

So what is a person to do. Well for one, you have to get used to it if you are decided to keep that job of yours. The transition is not that easy. Imagine coming of an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift and then working on an 11 p.m. to 8 p.m. shift. You are bound to encounter preliminary headaches and of course sleeping difficulties. But after a couple of days, your body clock will adjust accordingly until perhaps the next shift schedule.

Most people who suffer from this issue come from the call centers and the medical sector. But considering how hard it is today to get a job, they are left with few options. The worst part of it is that this sleep disorder will haunt them for years to come. Being accustomed to such is really something that people have to realize. It just will not go easily compared to how it came.

Finally, you are really just left with two choices:

1. Bear with the job and adjust to the job requirement needs.
2. Consider a career change or look for another similar job that may not be entirely demanding as far as ruining your regular body clock cycle.

The choice is really all up to you.

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Hence, the demand for adjusting to any scenario related to the manner of living has been an obvious occurrence in our daily lives today. This is one reason why there are growing numbers of people with sleep disorders. Some have been even gotten themselves into the insomniac syndrome, something that has been gaining attention from past years.

Many have been able to cope up with it, while some have not. The truth of it all is the fact that people have to adjust and get sleep. Without sleep, a person will not be able to produce in the manner that they are expected to. The time and age today is no longer about the usual 9 to 5 jobs we have all been exposed to. It includes catering towards the working hours of companies that cater to different time zones.

Body clock adjustments are a reality. They must be given attention and proper emphasis. It is no longer a matter of being awake and getting the proper amount of sleep. It is about finding ways of how to be active and effective, things companies and people look for. Some have taken up the challenge while some are still groping for form.

Here is a good article to read on: Criss-crossing time zones hard on body

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