Understanding Social Jet Lag

Many individuals experience social jet lag, which arises from a misalignment between their biological clock and daily schedule. This mismatch often leads to reliance on alarm clocks, caffeine, and weekend sleep-ins, but these solutions do not effectively restore circadian harmony. Science journalist Lynn Peoples emphasizes that our internal clocks influence various aspects of our lives, such as academic performance, workplace productivity, and even life expectancy. Disruption of these natural rhythms can escalate the risks of severe conditions like cancer, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases.