Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

What You Will Learn

• How the concept of the biological clock applies to human physiology and well-being.

• Key insights from Dr. Reem Al Nuaimi’s The Biological Clock and how they expand on traditional circadian-rhythm theory.

• Practical ways to align your daily rhythms (sleep, nutrition, activity) with your internal timing for improved health.

• How integrating psychological, emotional and physiological dimensions of time supports resilience and optimal functioning.

• Actionable steps you can take to “read” and work with your own biological timing rather than fight it.

Introduction

Time – it flows, it ticks, it passes. Yet beneath the surface of clocks and calendars lies something far more subtle: the internal timing mechanisms that regulate our body, mind and mood. In her book The Biological Clock, Dr. Reem Al Nuaimi invites us into a fresh understanding of how our physiology, emotions and life rhythm are interwoven. This article explores the science behind the biological clock, what her work reveals about how we function, and how you can apply this awareness to live more aligned, resilient and well-supported by time rather than at odds with it.

The Science of the Biological Clock

At its most basic level, a “biological clock” refers to internal physiological processes that regulate cycles — sleep/wake, hormone release, body temperature — often following a roughly 24-hour rhythm (circadian).

But Dr. Al Nuaimi’s contribution goes deeper than the classic definition. Her book The Biological Clock (Arabic: الساعة البيولوجية) offers a holistic lens: the clock is not only within the brain’s master pacemaker (the suprachiasmatic nucleus) but echoes throughout the body, organs, emotions and life narrative.

Circadian rhythms re-examined

Science tells us that signal molecules (like melatonin), temperature fluctuations, gene-expression cycles and environmental cues (light, food, exercise) contribute to the body’s timing systems.

Dr. Al Nuaimi reminds us that modern life often disrupts these rhythms: irregular sleep, late-night screens, inconsistent meals, emotional stress all throw the clock off its beat. Her book emphasises the importance of restoring internal timing, not only for physical vitality but for emotional and psychological balance.

Beyond the 24-hour cycle: organ dialogue and internal timing

One of her key ideas is that each organ and system within the body has its own “time zone” or internal dialogue — the digestive system may peak at one time, the nervous system at another, the hormonal system at yet another. The Biological Clock offers detailed maps of how organs “speak” and when they are most responsive.

This insight reframes time not just as an external measurement, but as an internal compass: when you eat, rest, exercise, process emotions — doing so in harmony with your biological timings enhances flow and reduces friction.

What Dr. Al Nuaimi’s Book Reveals About How We Function

1. Integration of physical, emotional and mental rhythms

In The Biological Clock, the body is not treated in isolation: mind, emotion and physiology are deeply connected. For example, stress doesn’t just affect mood — it shifts your internal timing, altering digestion, sleep, hormonal balance. By becoming aware of your rhythms, you become better attuned to the signals your body sends.

2. Time-awareness as a tool for resilience

Rather than measuring success in external minutes and hours, the book invites us to align with internal time. For example: noticing when you’re most alert, when your digestive system works best, when your emotional “peak” occurs, when you need quiet or restoration. This kind of awareness cultivates resilience: you stop pushing against your internal clock and instead flow with it.

3. Practical rhythms for everyday well-being

Dr. Al Nuaimi provides concrete practices: aligning food timing with digestive rhythm, scheduling rest when your nervous system needs it, allowing emotional processing when you’re internally poised for it. These recommendations draw on both research and her holistic clinical work. The book is described as “an informative book packed with details about your organs and their internal dialogue.”

4. A culturally-attuned approach for the Arabic-speaking world

As noted, الساعة البيولوجية is positioned as the first of its kind in the Arab world. This means it engages cultural rhythms (daily prayer times, fasting, meals at certain times) and helps readers map modern life onto timeless internal cycles. That blend of local insight plus scientific framing gives it unique value.

Applying the Insights: How to Work with Your Biological Clock

Below are practical suggestions inspired by the book. Think of them as invitations to tune in to internal timing rather than rigid scheduling.

Step 1: Discover your personal rhythm

• Observe when in the day you feel most alert, most tired, most creative, most emotional.

• Keep a simple log for 3–5 days: note sleep/wake times, meal times, mood/spikes, focus patterns.

• Reflect: does your schedule align with your natural peaks, or do you fight them?

Step 2: Align your sleep-wake cycle

• Choose a regular bedtime and wake time, even on weekends. Consistency supports your circadian rhythm.

• Create an evening ritual: reduce screens, dim lights, transition your nervous system into rest.

• Use morning light exposure (natural daylight) to reset your clock and signal wake-up.

Step 3: Time your meals with your digestive rhythm

• According to Dr. Al Nuaimi’s approach, your gut has optimal windows. Eat your main meal when your digestive system is primed (for many, midday).

• Avoid heavy meals late at night when your body is shifting toward rest.

• Include a nutrient-rich breakfast that supports metabolic rhythm rather than a rush of sugar.

Step 4: Match activity and rest to energy peaks

• Plan your most demanding mental or physical tasks when your internal alertness is highest.

• Recognise when you’re in a low-energy phase: allow for lighter tasks, movement breaks, quiet reflection.

• Use restful activities (meditation, gentle walking) when your nervous system needs a break.

Step 5: Honour emotional and restorative time

• Your internal clock also affects when you’re ready to process emotions, reflect, recuperate. Dr. Al Nuaimi emphasises that emotional rhythms matter.

• Schedule quiet time (without electronics) for reflection, journaling or simply observing internal state.

• Use this time to ask: What is my body, mind or mood telling me? What does my clock want right now?

Why This Matters for Well-Being and Performance

When you work with your biological clock rather than against it, you gain several advantages:

• Better sleep quality: Harmonised timing supports deeper sleep, more restorative cycles, improved recovery.

• Improved metabolic health: Meal timing aligned with digestive rhythms aids metabolism, energy regulation, even mood stability.

• Emotional resilience: By recognising your internal timing, you reduce the friction of forcing yourself into unnatural patterns, which lowers stress and fatigue.

• Peak performance: Whether in work, creativity, learning or life tasks, timing alignment means you show up when you are primed, not when you are depleted.

• Holistic integration: Dr. Al Nuaimi’s frame invites you to see body, mind and timing as one system. This coheres with the brand mission of Biri Publishing: bridging psychology, physiology and meaningful living for Arabic-speakers around the world.

Common Obstacles and How to Overcome Them

Obstacle: “My schedule won’t let me”

Many readers will say: “I have to work nights,” “family demands interrupt me,” “I travel time-zones.” The book acknowledges modern life isn’t always easy. The key is to adapt rather than abandon: shift your internal timing in smaller increments (30 minutes earlier/later over days), use light exposure to reset, keep key rituals (even if timing shifts).

Obstacle: “I don’t feel my rhythm yet”

If you’re detached from your internal timing — maybe because of prolonged stress or shift work — begin with simple observance: track mood/energy for a week; identify three times in the day you feel different. That alone builds awareness.

Obstacle: “It’s too strict, feels like another schedule”

The purpose isn’t rigidity—it’s alignment. Dr. Al Nuaimi emphasises flexibility within your natural flow. The point isn’t to become inflexible, but to listen. Use the clock as a guide, not a guard.

Reflective Questions (Inspired by the brand’s focus on psychological insight)

• When in the last 24 hours did you feel most naturally “on”? What were you doing and what time was it?

• When did you feel most drained? What might that reveal about your internal timing?

• If you could shift one daily task by 30 minutes to better align with your internal clock, what would it be?

• How might your internal timing link to your emotional patterns (mood dips, creative peaks, relational energy)?

• What small ritual could you adopt tonight to support your internal rest timing tomorrow?

Conclusion

Time is often thought of as an external conveyor – minutes, hours, deadlines – but within us beats a deeper rhythm: our biological clock. The Biological Clock by Dr. Reem Al Nuaimi guides us into that internal time-space, showing how our organs, emotions and behaviors respond to rhythm, not just reason. For the Arabic-speaking community seeking integration of mind, body and meaningful living, her work is a timely invitation: not to fight the clock, but to partner with it.

As the Biri Publishing brand emphasizes – knowledge that helps you flourish – aligning with your internal clock is not just about health. It’s about coherence, vitality and being fully alive to your potential in your own timing. May this insight inspire you to become more attuned, more resilient and more deeply human.

References

• Al Nuaimi, R. (2019). الساعة البيولوجية [The Biological Clock]. [Arabic edition]. Biri Publishing.

• “What is the biological clock?” In McGraw-Hill AccessScience.

• Biri Publishing. (n.d.). Biological Clock: The first book of its kind in the Arab world. Retrieved from Biri Publishing.

• Goodreads page for الساعة البيولوجية. (n.d.).