Swedish Secret to Better Sleep and More Energy
We could learn a lot from cultures around the world—especially ones with the happiest people living the longest lives.
One country that ticks both boxes is Sweden.
They’re close to the top of the list when it comes to life expectancy, which is about 83.33 years. (This beats the US by about four years.)
But believe it or not, one habit that no doubt contributes to their superior health and longevity has been called “cuckoo.”
There’s a Swedish practice called gokotta that translates to “early morning cuckoo.”
From Ascension Day (May 30) through midsummer (June 24), it’s a common practice for Swedish folks to step outside at dawn to listen to the birds sing.
But the only thing “cuckoo” about this tradition is that it’s only practiced for a few weeks out of the year. It would be better if it was a daily habit.
You see, spending time outdoors at sunrise is by far the best way to set your circadian rhythm for the day.
Circadian rhythm is best known for its role in ensuring good sleep. But the reality is that getting your internal clock lined up with the sun’s rhythm is critical for literally every aspect of your health.
A well-balanced circadian rhythm plays a vital role in…
- balancing hormones,
- preventing diabetes,
- boosting heart health,
- and maintaining a healthy weight.
Studies show that exposure to morning sunlight helps prevent insomnia and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) by increasing serotonin levels.
And by balancing the production of melatonin, it improves mood and boosts energy during the day, and helps you sleep better at night.
Spending time outdoors ALSO slashes stress, lowers blood pressure, and reduces anxiety.
Cloudy out? Step outside anyway. You’ll just need to stay outdoors a bit longer.
Mainstream medicine has us all convinced that drugs are the answer to ALL our health problems. And we’re so steeped in this medicine mentality it may seem impossible to derive such monumental health benefits simply from daily morning sun exposure. But the science clearly proves otherwise.
If living this lifestyle makes me “cuckoo,” so be it.
I’ve been called worse.
P.S. Getting desperate for a bit of shuteye? Skip the prescription for a risky prescription pill. This natural supplement works in some of the same ways as popular sleep drugs like Ambien and Valium. But it comes without all the risks.
SOURCE:
“Benefits of sunlight: a bright spot for human health.” Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Apr;116(4):A160-7. doi: 10.1289/ehp.116-a160. Erratum in: Environ Health Perspect. 2008 May;116(5):A197. PMID: 18414615; PMCID: PMC2290997.
