Did you know that your body naturally goes through cycles of significant energy and alertness followed by a period of fatigue every 90 to 120 minutes?
This is known as your ultradian rhythm.
Many of us try to power through the day without taking breaks, which can lead to burnout and decreased productivity (as well as soreness if we aren’t moving our bodies enough). However, understanding and working with your body's natural ultradian rhythms can help make a big difference.
Here is how you can tap into these natural rhythms in 3 easy steps.
- Identify your peak times. Track your energy levels throughout the day to find when you’re naturally most alert and focused. This is when your brain is in a high energy state.
- Schedule your tasks accordingly. Once you know your peak times, schedule your most important tasks or activities to do during these periods. (Note: It’s still important to have short micro breaks every 30-45-60 minutes during these high energy times).
- Take regular breaks. After 60-90 minutes of focussed work, take a 15-20 minute break. This helps you recharge and maintain your high level of performance throughout the day. These breaks may be going for a walk, colouring, meditating, talking to a friend etc. We just want to “turn your brain off” for a while.
Hopefully, by tapping into your bodies ultradian rhythms, you will be able to optimise your bodies performance and get the most out of your day.