Why Fighting Your Natural Body Clock May Increase Your Depression Risk

• Research suggests that being out of sync with your body clock may increase your risk of depression.
• In addition, there appears to be a genetic link between wake time and depression risk.
• It’s possible to train your body to be more in touch with its internal clock.

For some people, mornings are a time of productivity and alertness. However, others prefer to sleep later and get their best work done in the afternoon and evening.

Unfortunately for the later risers among us, the workplace tends to be more geared toward a 9-to-5 day, which forces night owls to wake up much earlier than they’d like.

Now, there’s research from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom that may explain just why a mismatch between the body clock and wake time may be bad for workers.

The research indicates that when people’s sleep patterns are out of sync with their body clock, they may be at increased risk for depression and anxiety. They may also report lowered feelings of well-being.

In addition, there appears to be a genetic link between wake time and depression risk.