Why cravings may indicate your body needs more rest: understanding the connection
It may be tempting to push through signals from your body, like grogginess or lack of focus, with something artificial, like caffeine or foods high in added sugar. But what is the body actually trying to tell us? And how can ultradian rhythm breaks help us to get through the day with more energy?

Just as your body goes through cycles while you’re sleeping, a similar process occurs when you’re awake. Ultradian rhythm breaks are essential for maintaining productivity, focus, and overall well-being. These breaks, which occur every 90-120 minutes, allow our bodies to rest and recharge before diving back into work.

The importance of ultradian rhythm breaks can be seen in the way our bodies naturally function. Our bodies produce waste during the day, chemical byproducts of its performance. To properly to detoxify the body needs a break of 20 minutes every 90 minutes. In these 20 minutes the body rebalances before it’s able to get productive again. But also our brains are designed to work in short bursts, not for long periods of time. By taking regular breaks, we allow our brains to rest and recharge, which can lead to increased productivity and focus.

Benefits of ultradian rhythm breaks

One of the key benefits of ultradian rhythm breaks is that they can help to reduce stress and fatigue. When we work for long periods of time without a break, our stress levels can rise, which can lead to decreased focus and productivity. By taking regular breaks, we can reduce stress and fatigue, which can lead to increased productivity and focus.

Another benefit of ultradian rhythm breaks is that they can help to improve creativity. When we work for long periods of time without a break, our brains can become overworked, which can lead to decreased creativity. By taking regular breaks, we can allow our brains to rest and recharge, which can lead to increased creativity.

Additionally, ultradian rhythm breaks can help to improve overall well-being. Regular breaks can help to improve our mood, reduce feelings of burnout, and improve our overall physical and mental health.

Decoding the signals: Recognizing the signs that your body needs a break

What exactly happens when you take an ultradian rhythm break?

If we don’t take breaks our productivity goes down, we cannot regulate our bodies as good, creativity goes down… inflammation rises, reactivity increases. This is biohacking at its best. So next time you’re craving a coffee or chocolate, ask yourself when was the last break you took?

P.S. Rest looks different for everyone of us… here are some ideas how these ultradian rhythm breaks could look like for you:

In summary, ultradian rhythm breaks are essential for maintaining productivity, focus, and overall well-being. By taking regular breaks, we allow our brains to rest and recharge, reduce stress and fatigue, improve creativity and overall well-being. Therefore, it's important to incorporate regular breaks into your daily routine to optimize your productivity and well-being.