If you are one of those people who are always looking for productivity tips, then you’ve probably heard about the benefits of waking up early. Early risers are believed to have more time to focus on really important things and make better decisions. They are able to focus on their tasks without interruptions, enabling them to get more done.
While those are somehow true, waking up late doesn’t mean you’ll be less productive or be less capable of focusing. It doesn’t even mean that you’re lazy.
One sleep doctor insists that late risers shouldn’t be shamed.
Syed Moin Hassan, a sleep specialist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston suggests that there are a couple of things that can make a person become a late riser. One of them is the circadian rhythm sleep disorder.
The circadian rhythm disorder refers to the problems concerning your internal body clock or circadian rhythm. It plays a huge role in your sleep-wake cycle.
Normally, your cycle is influenced by light and darkness.
With time zone changes, pregnancy, medications, mental health issues, changes in routine, and medical problems, you’ll have a hard time falling asleep, staying asleep, getting sleep but not feeling well-rested, waking up too early or waking up late.
Syed Moin Hassan believes that late risers shouldn’t feel ashamed if they wake up late. It’s not a sign of laziness which most people think.
In a Tweet, he shared:
“A young patient looked at me incredulously as I told him that waking up late was okay. I could see him process it in his mind and I saw a wave of relief pass over his face as he understood the concept of the circadian rhythm. From a young age, he has been told that that waking up late was a sign of laziness and he was terrified of even thinking about sleeping in and would feel ashamed if he woke up late.”
If you are still bothered about being a late riser and you want to do something about it, the doctor said that you can seek medical help.
The treatment for the condition may involve aligning your circadian phase with your social life using light and melatonin. Another option is to align your social life with your circadian cycle.
For example, if you are a night person, you can adjust your social activities and work schedules to keep up with your internal sleep clock. You can also take melatonin supplements or undergo light therapy.
“Wow, this was the tweet I needed right now. I’m currently at war with my 3am to 11am sleep cycle. Knowing I’m not alone in my circadian cycle is a blessing!”
Another one said:
“Thank you! I have been “sleep shamed ” for years. I have delayed sleep phase and felt the stigma most of my life.”
The next time you meet someone who’s not an early riser, don’t jump into conclusions right away. Instead, respect differences.
