Can’t seem to get up and do work after a late night working or partying? “Social Jet Lag” is probably the term you’re looking for. According to a new study in the journal JAMA Network Open, Almost fifty percent of U.S. adults experience some social jet lag.
Just like travel jet lag when you are in a different time zone, social jet lag, like the term, is the discrepancy between biological time determined by our circadian rhythm and social times, dictated by our obligations from school to work. Our Circadian rhythm is a 24-hour internal clock that determines when we feel certain things. For example, when you feel hungry or when you sleep. The term social jetlag is when your body runs on two different clocks, your biological or circadian clock and your social clock. Social jet lag can be measured by calculating the difference in time between the midpoint of sleep on work days.
Around 66 percent of the general population has experienced some degree of social jetlag to some degree. These discrepancies are usually caused by irregular sleep times, a shift of work schedule, and misalignment between your chronotype. Social Jet lag usually puts people at a greater risk of
- cardiovascular disease,
- metabolic syndrome ( obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure).
- weight gain,
- higher body mass index (BMI)
- depression
- sleep disorder.
- Less healthy eating habits
- Poorer academic performance
However, social jet lag could be cured and prevented beforehand. For example, trying to maintain a healthy and consistent sleep schedule. Even though this might be easier said than done, the 2019 randomized clinical trial has helped a group of people experiencing social jet lag to a higher degree to rework their sleep schedule and habits. In addition, when trying to cure social jet lag, avoid stimulants like caffeine and alcohol and try to exercise at least ten minutes a day. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 10 minutes of just walking or doing aerobic exercise can “drastically improve nighttime sleep quality.”
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/12/health/irregular-sleep-social-jet-lag-wellness/index.html
https://www.risescience.com/blog/social-jetlag
https://www.wsj.com/articles/feeling-groggy-you-might-have-social-jet-lag-11667923039?page=1
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945719301388?via%3Dihub
