How Sun Exposure Can Help You Sleep Better
In today’s news cycle and our hustle and bustle lifestyles, sleepless nights may seem like an inevitable element of the human experience. However, through simple adjustments to your daily routine involving exposure to light, you can better position yourself to enjoy a much more restful sleep and a healthier schedule.
Light Affects Your Circadian Rhythm
Our bodies are hardwired to wake up when the sun rises and head to bed when it sets. However, with the advent of electricity and technology, light keeps us awake longer and/or at different hours than our ancestors. Artificial light essentially tricks the brain into thinking it is daytime, and therefore that your body should be alert. Still, daylight (or sunlight itself) has the highest impact on your circadian rhythm (or your internal clock that regulates your body’s processes), not artificial light. If you are truly looking to change your sleep schedule, it may be beneficial to spend more time in the sun at the times we will discuss below. In the same way that light can keep you awake, exposing yourself to light at different times in the day will help you sleep better.
Add Light to Your Morning
Exposing yourself to light in the morning can actually help you feel sleepy in the evening. It will also naturally increase your alertness after you wake up. This early morning sun exposure will help you get tired earlier and, subsequently, go to bed closer to when it gets dark. Going to bed early is vital to catching up on sleep and letting your body recharge. You can also dim the lights in the early morning or in the middle of the night to fall back asleep.
Avoid Light at Bedtime
If you are exposing yourself to light right before bed, or into the night, your brain will become more active and alert, making it harder to sleep. If you are looking to stay up later, sitting in a well-lit place can help keep you up. However, be cautious when exposing yourself to artificial light at odd hours, as it can disrupt your circadian rhythm and pose health risks.
Through the implementation of these tips, we hope that you are able to fix your sleeping schedule in the most optimal way for your lifestyle. Sometimes it really is as simple as just turning off the lights.
How can we help you get more “SUN”?
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