According to new research by leading bed retailer Bensons for Beds, searches for “how to reset your circadian rhythm” and “what is your circadian rhythm” surged by a huge 5,000% in the past 30 days in the UK, with an average of 4,000 searches per month.

This year, more than any other, there seems to be a renewed focus on health and wellbeing, with sleep taking centre stage in the wellness spotlight. The importance of quality sleep has taken centre stage, leading to a surge in innovations and trends focused on making our nightly rest the best it can be.

Circadian rhythm refers to the natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours.

Benson’s resident sleep expert, Dr Sophie Bostock, said, “Sleep quality improves with consistent sleep timing. If you aim to wake up and prepare for bed at a similar time each day, this will strengthen your circadian rhythms, and has been shown to enhance both deep sleep and REM sleep.

“Our circadian rhythms rely on exposure to natural daylight to know that it’s time to be active. Aim to get outside for at least 10 minutes every day within an hour of waking up to kick-start your daily rhythm and encourage the brain to be ready for sleep 16 hours later.

“Movement is one of the signals to our internal clocks that it’s daytime, and time to be alert. Being physically active in the early part of the day can help align our internal rhythms with the light-dark cycle of the sun and help us feel naturally sleepy at nightfall. Physical activity late at night, however, can delay the clock, so it’s recommended to stop intensive exercise at least an hour before bed.

“For good health and better quality sleep, you want to reduce circadian desynchrony and get your body clocks in sync with each other and the light-dark cycle of the sun.”

Smart lighting systems are becoming increasingly popular, mimicking sunlight and changing throughout the day. The colour, temperature and intensity of the light changes automatically, following the varying hues of natural sunlight.

You might not think it, but exposure to this artificial sunlight while we’re awake can have a massive effect, and can help regulate our body’s release of melatonin (the sleep hormone) in the evening. Some of these systems can even sync with our schedules, making sure that the lighting aligns with our natural circadian rhythm.

If you want to go all out, then “circadian-friendly” apps are starting to come to the fore, guiding people through different routines that go hand in hand with their individual circadian preferences. These apps offer suggestions for different activities, meals, and exposure to natural light, offering a wider view and approach to circadian rhythm optimisation.