Daytime Trick Delivers the “PERFECT” Night’s Sleep
It’s hard to feel good if you’re not sleeping well.
And that means about 60 million Americans must feel pretty awful right now. Because that’s the number of people who have some sort of sleep disorder.
I always tell my patients that, before resorting to sleeping aids, they should always try adjusting certain lifestyle factors first.
In fact, if you’re having trouble sleeping at night, chances are you need to change something you’re doing during the day.
One of the things you can do to improve your nighttime sleep is to spend MORE time in the sun.
I know that might sound strange, but hear me out. To get good sleep, you need a healthy circadian rhythm (your body’s natural 24-hour cycle).
This cycle, controlled by a small area in the middle of the brain, is affected by light. To keep it running smoothly, we must spend time in the sun during the day and in complete darkness at night.
You see, when your eyes are exposed to sunlight, your body releases the hormone serotonin. It helps you feel awake.
At night (in the absence of sunlight), your body releases melatonin—your “sleep” hormone. It encourages you to fall asleep.
Regulating hormones like these is one way that sunlight influences your circadian rhythm and impacts your sleeping.
So it should come as no surprise that not getting enough sunlight can throw off the natural hormonal balance your body requires for proper sleep.
In fact, one study found that simply exposing your eyes to sunlight later than usual in the morning can negatively impact your sleep cycle.
In another study of office workers, one group was exposed to less morning sunlight than the other. The lucky volunteers who were exposed to MORE natural light in the morning fell asleep faster at night and slept more soundly.
Yes, your circadian rhythm IS THAT sensitive.
When those study participants were exposed to bright light earlier in the morning, they produced melatonin (the sleep hormone) earlier in the evening.
You can replicate this success in your own life by taking a daily brisk morning walk.
It’ll set the tone for your entire day… and your nighttime, too.
P.S. Still struggling to sleep? Skip the risky melatonin supplements and give your hormone production another NATURAL boost with this “tart elixir.”
SOURCE:
“Daytime light exposure is a strong predictor of seasonal variation in sleep and circadian timing of university students,” JPR, 20 November 2022, doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12843
“The impact of daytime light exposures on sleep and mood in office workers,” Sleep Health, VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3, P204-215, JUNE 01, 2017, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2017.03.005
