OVERVIEW

Your Body Clock Matters forms part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar, a coordinated programme of national public education presented by The Sleep Society to improve sleep health awareness across Canada.

Our internal body clock, or circadian system, helps regulate the timing of sleep and wakefulness and coordinates many essential biological processes across the 24-hour day. Healthy circadian rhythms support physical health, mental wellbeing, alertness and daily performance, while disruption can contribute to sleep problems, impaired concentration and adverse health effects. The science of chronobiology continues to improve our understanding of how biological timing influences sleep, health and performance throughout life.

WHY IT MATTERS

Healthy sleep depends not only on how long and how well we sleep, but also on when we sleep. Circadian rhythms influence hormone production, metabolism, body temperature, alertness, cognitive performance and cardiovascular function.

Modern life can frequently conflict with our biological timing. Shift work, irregular sleep schedules, jet lag and exposure to light at inappropriate times can disrupt circadian rhythms and are associated with adverse effects on sleep, physical health and mental wellbeing. Understanding how our body clock works—and recognising the importance of regular sleep and appropriate timing of light, activity and rest—can help support healthier sleep, wellbeing and everyday performance.

BACKGROUND

Your Body Clock Matters is observed throughout March as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar. The initiative promotes greater public understanding of circadian health and chronobiology—the science concerned with biological rhythms and their relationship with time.

For much of modern life, sleep has been treated primarily as a matter of duration: how many hours we get each night. Sleep science has demonstrated that timing also matters. Our internal biological rhythms help determine when we are naturally prepared to sleep, wake, eat, think and perform at our best. When our lifestyle repeatedly conflicts with these rhythms, sleep and health may suffer. Recognising the importance of our body clock provides another opportunity to improve sleep, health, safety and performance throughout life.

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CURRENT ACTIVITIES

The Sleep Society and SleepSafeCanada are currently working to:

• Promote public awareness of circadian health and the importance of healthy biological rhythms.
• Increase understanding of chronobiology and its role in sleep, health and daily performance.
• Develop educational resources for the public, healthcare professionals, employers, workplaces and educators.
• Support annual awareness activities throughout March as part of Canada’s Sleep Calendar.
• Encourage collaboration with healthcare organisations, educational institutions, governments, employers and industry.
• Build partnerships and national support to expand the initiative across Canada.

ENDORSEMENTS

We welcome the endorsement of governments, healthcare organisations, universities, professional associations, employers and community organisations that support the aims of this initiative and greater awareness of circadian health.

PARTNERS

We collaborate with organisations that actively support the development, delivery and promotion of this initiative through education, research, collaboration and public engagement.

SUPPORTERS

We gratefully acknowledge organisations, businesses and individuals who support the aims of this initiative and help raise awareness within their communities and networks.

SPONSORS

We gratefully recognise organisations whose financial or in-kind support helps make this initiative possible and extends its reach across Canada.

RESOURCES

Access articles, fact sheets, videos, posters and downloadable resources relating to circadian health, chronobiology and healthy sleep.

SleepSafeCanada

Canada’s National Sleep Health Awareness Initiative

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SleepSafeCanada promotes public awareness of the importance of healthy sleep through Canada’s Sleep Calendar, national education campaigns, community engagement and public health initiatives that encourage healthier, safer and more productive lives.

A Better Sleep

Your Trusted Sleep Information Resource

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For additional public information, articles and downloadable resources relating to this initiative, please visit abettersleep.net. The site provides trusted, evidence-based information to help people better understand healthy sleep, sleep disorders and the lifelong importance of healthy sleep.

The Sleep Society

Canada’s Interdisciplinary Sleep Health Community

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The Sleep Society brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, organisations and industry to advance sleep health through collaboration, education and research. Visitors can explore professional education, connect with Canada’s growing interdisciplinary sleep health community and locate healthcare professionals with an interest in sleep health.

GET INVOLVED

Help raise awareness of the initiative by sharing information and supporting greater public understanding of circadian health, healthy biological rhythms and the importance of when we sleep.

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MEDIA CENTRE

Access news, media releases, campaign updates and other information relating to Your Body Clock Matters.

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TOGETHER

The Sleep Society has selected Web Hosting Canada as its Strategic Technology Partner, supporting the continued development, delivery and national growth of this initiative while helping build the digital infrastructure needed to support future collaboration across Canada.

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