Inconsistent Bedtimes Linked to Poor Health, Bad Moods and Earlier Death
New research reveals benefits to consistent sleep schedules—independent of duration—even if the reasons remain mysterious
When the clock approaches 10:20 p.m., if I haven’t yet gone to bed, my wife is apt to mock my inconsistent behavior. See, I’m almost always in bed between 9:45 and 10:15, and I typically wake up around 6 a.m. — very annoying, I know. I’m what sleep experts call a regular sleeper, someone who keeps fairly consistent bedtimes and wake-up times seven days a week, come hell or high anxiety.
The body and brain thrive on such regularity. Your internal 24-hour body clock, known as your circadian rhythm, governs sleep and wake cycles through the timely release of hormones like melatonin and cortisol, plus changes in body temperature and other cues for the mind to be sound asleep or wide awake.
It’s long been known that sleep-schedule regularity is key to keeping the body clock well timed, so that we fall asleep quickly, sleep soundly, and wake up alert and ready to tackle the day. Some research has even suggested that falling sleep between 10 and 11 p.m. is ideal for good health.
