Mental health · 7 min
Restoring your cortisol curve
Cortisol normally follows a fixed daily rhythm: high shortly after waking, gradually declining toward evening. Chronic stress, irregular sleep, and too much caffeine can flatten or shift that curve. The result is daytime fatigue and evening restlessness or alertness.
In this article: What it is · How it works · Common myths · Practical tips · When to be careful
Key takeaways
- Seek morning light within 30 minutes of waking.
- Delay caffeine by 60 to 90 minutes after waking.
- Keep a fixed wake-up time every day.
- Dim lights 2 hours before bed to support the evening decline.
- See a doctor for persistent extreme fatigue.
Written by Jochem Nohlmans, founder of Somora.