In our busy lives, we meticulously schedule meetings, appointments, and social events. Yet, the single most important appointment for our health—sleep—is often left to chance. To truly protect your cardiovascular system, you must start treating your bedtime as a non-negotiable, recurring appointment in your calendar.
This appointment is with your circadian rhythm, the internal manager of your body’s health. Showing up on time each night reinforces its authority and allows it to effectively carry out its duties. Its primary task during this time is to lower your blood pressure, giving your heart and vascular system a critical period of recovery.
Skipping or constantly rescheduling this appointment throws your internal manager into chaos. It doesn’t know when to initiate the recovery protocol, leading to elevated blood pressure, increased stress hormones, and general systemic dysfunction. This is like having a company where no one follows a schedule—nothing gets done right.
Elevate the importance of sleep in your life. Block out a consistent 7-9 hour window for it on your calendar every single day, including weekends. Keeping this one appointment is the most powerful and effective scheduling decision you can make for your long-term cardiovascular protection.