While dark mornings are inevitable in winter, turning the clocks back gives us an extra hour of natural light. At least 15 minutes’ exposure to natural daylight, as early as possible in the day, is crucial for good sleep and for falling asleep faster at night. Why? Because natural light plays a big role in regulating circadian rhythm (your internal body clock), signaling when to be alert and when to sleep. Natural light suppresses melatonin (the sleepy hormone) to help you feel more alert during the day. But when the evening arrives and natural light fades, your circadian rhythm starts to increase melatonin production again. Your sleep drive (hunger to sleep) will therefore be at its highest come bedtime, helping you to fall asleep faster. Getting sunlight exposure as early as possible in the morning boosts our cortisol levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone responsible for waking us up faster and making us feel alert. Therefore, spikes in the morning give us energy and alertness to power us through our daily tasks. Morning light regulates your energy levels. It means you have energy when you need it, which is usually early in the morning when you need to get to work, and can wind down later in the day when it’s time to get ready for bed. Although keeping your sleep space clean, regularly washing your bedsheets, and vacuuming your mattress are all contributors, sleep hygiene is not exclusively about cleaning. It’s also about creating good habits at bedtime.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Clocks Going Back Means Lighter Mornings Here Is Why That Will Help You Fall Asleep Faster
