Body Clocks, Sleep and Society | Tony Fernando | TEDxAuckland

Humans have different body clocks or circadian rhythms. These rhythms are more nature than nurture and we can only influence them only to a small degree. Most of us feel sleepy at night, sleep before midnight and wake up in the morning. However, for a small population they naturally feel alert at night, fall asleep after midnight, and as a result wake up closer to midday. From teenagers who naturally experience a temporary shift in sleeping patterns to adults who are glued to their blue light devices. Dr Tony Fernando shares his thoughts, anecdotes and scientific insights on this biological phenomenon.
Tony is a psychiatrist, sleep specialist and has been a senior lecturer in Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland. He has been published in local and international research journals in sleep medicine and medical compassion. In 2015, he received the Chair’s award from the New Zealand Medical Association. Tony has taught mindfulness meditation to medical students, to doctors, nuns, priests, homeless and inmates at Mt Eden Correctional Facility. He recently submitted his PhD thesis on compassion in medicine. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@jasonchapman3542]

Amazing walk through, spent quite a bit of time with Tony, he is the real deal, life changing

[@emilybeaird4072]

Thank you for explaining my condition. I've always felt ashamed of my sleep pattern.

[@Letishamalakootiofficial]

Same

[@jessdavies1911]

Same, it's so frustrating trying to explain dspd

[@Letishamalakootiofficial]

Can’t belief this doesn’t have more comments lol

[@Dixon_Ormous]

Love it! Well done Tony!

[@mr.j997]

This video explained exactly what I have. I am the typical "owl". Why I know this is because my sleep pattern is prescribed to around 2 AM to 10 AM. I never feel tired or drousy at 9 PM or 10 PM which most people do. I am not even close. If I would try to go to sleep that early I would just lay in bed for hours without sleeping at all. I have tried to go up early and it worked - for four days. Then after a while, my mind and body started to go to bed later and later and eventually I went back to my normal sleeping habit. It is not laziness, it is how I am programmed.

[@rishadchettri4910]

Great example of me

[@bananite1]

Wow the first few minutes of the video describes me to a T

[@bijousmith1021]

Genuine human being Tony. I have never been too ashamed of being a night owl, provided I can see the sunrise once in a while, it is always beautiful. But I have always been depressed at the unwitting tyranny of the Normies who dictate we live in a world discriminating against Owls. Thanks to Tony I will no longer be so depressed.