Social jet lag can be defined as a misalignment in your sleeping patterns on weekdays versus weekends. In recent times, we all seem bound and determined to stay on top of things with work. Nowadays, it seems like we have a lot of work to do during workdays that we spend nighttime trying to catch up on other things that we end up not getting enough sleep. If you need an alarm clock to wake you up for every workday but prefer to sleep in during the weekends, you might be suffering from social jet lag. Social jetlag is usually a result of staying up late socializing or catching up on screen time on your days off which causes you to sleep late. The switch up with these sleeping schedules is what causes the body to experience social jetlag. People do not realise that catching up on sleep in their free days can be harmful to their health and waistline. In a study about the effects of social jetlag and health, results found that this pattern leads to sleep deprivation and leads to poorer health, constant fatigue, and irritable moods. Researchers also discovered that each hour of social jetlag can be linked with an 11 percent increased risk of heart disease independent of sleep duration or insomnia. Another study found that the bigger the difference between your workday and free day sleep schedule, the higher the chances of you being overweight or obese. Contrastingly, the study showed that people who went to sleep and woke up at the same time were three times less likely to be overweight or obese. Although this study does not completely prove that social jetlag causes weight gain, there’s a piece of growing evidence that shows a connection between the two factors. Inconsistent sleep patterns can lead to health problems such as obesity, depression, and a few chronic diseases including diabetes. When you have social jetlag, you will most likely adopt unhealthy eating habits that can contribute to poor health and weight gain. Late-night eating can lead to waking up tired which causes you to avoid exercise and more likely to consume more caffeine, drink more alcohol or smoke more cigarettes. Studies suggest that not only do you need the required seven to eight hours of sleep, having a consistent sleep schedule is key. We all have hectic days but maintaining a sleeping pattern is important. The following tips will help you get the best night’s sleep:
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