Jet lag is common and, for anyone who has experienced it, often miserable. A fascinating article in The New York Times this month also examines how jet lag can sometimes make people mentally ill. A disruption in your circadian rhythm can cause changes in mood, depression and mania – but, the right amount of sleep and sunlight at the right time can make all the difference. The article states that most people have a natural cycle that is longer than our 24-hour solar day. This means that without the external cues of sunlight, we can quickly get out of sync. Our internal clocks have evolved to be tied to the solar day, so without the daylight cycle, our circadian rhythm gets easily thrown off.

Check out the article for more on this fascinating topic! Even pick up some pointers on the fix for jet lag like: “Travel east and you’ll need morning light and evening melatonin; go west and you’ll need evening light and morning melatonin.” As always, we love to read your comments.