Sorry to rub it in, but I'm in an airport again. Sydney International, waiting for my connection. Apparently, it's about 7pm in Sydney, but it's dark outside and my body's telling me it's really 9pm. Next transfer is in Dubai, apparently around 6am; who knows what my circadian system's going to think by then.
Your circadian system is your internal 24-hour body clock, and when your body clock doesn't match the actual time of the place you're in, that's jetlag. Or, in technical terms, a circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder. And it's not all in your head, either - when you're jetlagged, your body isn't producing all the right hormones at all the right times, including melatonin, which plays a role in getting you ready for a kip.
Everyone knows what jetlag feels like, even if you've spent your whole life in the same time zone. Ever stayed up a couple hours later on Friday and Saturday night because they're not work nights? Yep, that's all it takes to jetlag you. First thing I'll be doing when I'm next outside an airport is to get me some sunlight to reset my body clock.
Denne historien er fra June 24-30 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra June 24-30 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
