All of our lives have changes, and even events such as the holiday season or a change in shifts at a workplace can be stressful. So what are some ways that you can manage your circadian rhythm, so that your internal clock doesn’t get out of whack?
Holiday planning
You can plan ahead for the holidays months in advance, so that you don’t have to worry about last minute planning or rushing around to various stores.
Treat Physical Illness Immediately
Especially during the winter season, coughs and colds can make manic depression worse. These physical ailments will screw up your biological clock, usually to the depressive side.
Quiet Time Before Bedtime
Doing exciting things before going to bed such as arguing or watching television will make it harder to fall asleep, and it will take longer to enter a deep sleep, with the result being that you will wake up tired the next morning. Try having a quiet time where you read 30 minutes before you go to sleep.
Unwind
If you are bipolar, you should always make the time to unwind, as work time and family time can easily merge, giving you little free time for your own personal needs.
Plan the Weekends
If you are manic depressive, planning the weekends can be important, as unplanned weekends can be very boring, leaving you depressed, or they can involve too much stimulation, leaving you needing rest and manic.
Planning ahead for any contingencies will greatly help you keep a finely tuned circadian rhythm, so that your sleep schedule and your bipolar moods stay constant.