What is temperature minimum?

The temperature minimum, as explained by Andrew Huberman, refers to the lowest point in your body's temperature cycle within a 24-hour period. It typically occurs about 90 minutes to 2 hours before your average waking time. For instance, if you normally wake up around 5:30 AM, your temperature minimum is likely between 3:30 AM and 4:00 AM. This temperature minimum is crucial for determining your circadian rhythm and can be influenced by various factors like light exposure, exercise, eating, saunas, baths, and intense physical activity.

Knowing your temperature minimum is valuable for regulating your internal clock, especially when dealing with issues like jet lag, shift work, or sleep disturbances. For example, exposure to bright light in the four to six hours before your temperature minimum can delay your circadian clock, making you want to sleep and wake up later. Conversely, exposure to light in the hours after your temperature minimum will prompt an earlier sleep and wake time, this is known as a "phase advance" or advancing your clock 1 2 3.