Here's How Morning Sunlight Transformed My Sleep for the Better

CNET

2 days ago

Getting a good night's rest is vitally important for your health (mental and physical) as well as overall well-being. Of course, given how much current chaos is in the world, managing stress can be a challenge. The quality of your sleep and the amount of time you sleep each night matter. Stress can make it hard to find coping strategies, sometimes feeling overwhelming or impossible. This can also cause anxiety, which then further affects your sleep.
Thanks to a recent CNET survey, we now know that US adults are willing to spend about $1,000 annually ($78 per month) to enhance their sleep quality. Over half, approximately 56%, have adopted coping strategies for their sleep difficulties. Additionally, 22% of them use some form of sleep technology to improve their rest. Although investing in a new mattress and bedding can be super helpful, there are also affordable alternative methods to achieve better sleep.
Speaking for myself, I've never had a problem with falling asleep. It's the whole staying asleep that is my issue. I often wake up at odd hours with racing thoughts about tasks and previous failures, you know, the usual stuff. I have tried handling my anxiety with methods like reducing coffee, breathing exercises, meditation and eating well. While I saw some improvements, they weren't lasting. I then consulted Andrea Micheo, a holistic health coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition -- to explore natural anxiety remedies.
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How morning sunlight affects your circadian rhythm
A good night's sleep is essential for our health. One often overlooked factor in achieving quality sleep is exposure to sunlight in the morning. There are multiple benefits of getting sunlight first thing in the morning, such as boosting your mood and improving your quality of sleep. How? Great question. Let's get into it.
We can't talk about morning sunlight and improved sleep hygiene without first addressing our circadian rhythm. This is the body's 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. It naturally responds to light and darkness, and it dictates when we get hungry, sleepy and ready to wake up. Think of it as an internal clock.
According to Johns Hopkins, the SCN (or suprachiasmatic nucleus) is the area of your brain that controls your sleep-wake cycle. In the morning, your eyes sense the sunlight, and then the SCN triggers the release of cortisol to help wake up your body. Getting sunlight in the morning helps regulate your circadian rhythm as the light signals to your body and brain that it's time to start the day. When it gets dark at night, the SCN triggers the release of melatonin, which makes you sleepy.
"About a year ago, I started getting sunlight first thing in the morning and at sunset as a means to regulate my circadian rhythm. Since then, I've ditched the melatonin and have been getting more quality sleep," said Micheo.
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Our internal clock is most sensitive to light during three specific times of the day:
During the first hour after waking up : In the morning, as you get exposed to sunlight, your body starts to suppress its melatonin production (sleepy hormone).
: In the morning, as you get exposed to sunlight, your body starts to suppress its melatonin production (sleepy hormone). Approximately 2 hours before your bedtime : As it starts to get dark outside, your brain receives the signal that it's time to wind down and go to bed.
: As it starts to get dark outside, your brain receives the signal that it's time to wind down and go to bed. During the night: The darkness continues to signal to the brain to keep us asleep.
You can leverage these three stages of light to synchronize your circadian rhythm. Studies show that exposure to daylight not only improves sleep quality but can also help you fall asleep earlier. "I always recommend this time-efficient and cost-effective behavioral tool to all my clients and continue getting positive results and feedback," added Micheo.
Read more: Circadian Rhythm: Here's How to Reset and Get Better Sleep
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My sleep quality before and after getting morning sunlight
I'm a decent sleeper: I prioritize sleep and usually get enough quality rest to wake up feeling refreshed the next day. When looking at the data from my Oura ring (a cool health and fitness tracker), my average sleep score is around 80, which Oura labels as "good." Here's my sleep data from the night before I incorporated getting sunlight into my morning routine.
As you can see, I got almost 8 hours of sleep, but I had more wakeups than usual (restfulness). It took me 28 minutes to get to sleep (10 to 20 minutes is normal for most adults), and I didn't spend an ideal amount of time in deep sleep.
The only thing I switched up in my morning routine was going for a 30-minute walk outside briefly after waking up. I didn't wear sunglasses or a hat to expose my eyes to the sun's first morning rays, but I did protect my skin with sunscreen. If you go outside later in the day, it's best to wear a hat and sunglasses and use sunscreen.
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I didn't change anything else in my daily or night routine, and this is what I woke up to:
The first thing I noticed was that I slept a whole hour more and that I experienced fewer wakeups during the night. I also spent more time in deep sleep, and it only took me 9 minutes to fall asleep.
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Did I feel any different? Besides feeling a little more energized, I didn't experience a huge shift. I am surprised that I noticed such a difference in my sleep quality in just one day of exposing myself to the morning sun. The initial results are pretty promising, and I plan to get sunlight most mornings to see if I see significant improvement in the long run.
Guide to sunlight therapy in the morning
There isn't a single right way to get sunlight in the morning; these general guidelines can help you maximize your time in the sun:
Go outside within the first hour of waking up: Since your body is most sensitive to light right around when you wake up, it's a good idea to soak up some sunshine first thing in the morning.
Since your body is most sensitive to light right around when you wake up, it's a good idea to soak up some sunshine first thing in the morning. Aim to spend at least 30 mins in the sun: According to Harvard Medical School, 30 minutes is the optimal time to spend in light.
According to Harvard Medical School, 30 minutes is the optimal time to spend in light. Be sure to wear sunscreen: While the sun's UV radiation is less harmful in the morning than during the day, it's still a good idea to protect yourself with sunscreen.
While the sun's UV radiation is less harmful in the morning than during the day, it's still a good idea to protect yourself with sunscreen. Talk to your doctor: Before trying out light therapy with the morning sun, be sure you talk to your healthcare provider to ensure it's safe for you.
Tips to get more sunlight in the morning
Now that we've discussed how morning sunlight can affect sleep quality, let's explore ways to get more sunlight.
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Rise with the sun: Waking up around sunrise can be a game-changer for your sleep. Aim to wake up early and catch the first rays of sunlight to help regulate your circadian rhythm.
Waking up around sunrise can be a game-changer for your sleep. Aim to wake up early and catch the first rays of sunlight to help regulate your circadian rhythm. Open your curtains and blinds: One easy way of maximizing natural light in your home is to open your blinds and curtains. This allows the sunlight to provide a natural wake-up signal for your body.
One easy way of maximizing natural light in your home is to open your blinds and curtains. This allows the sunlight to provide a natural wake-up signal for your body. Do outdoor activities in the morning: Whether it's going for a brisk walk or just stretching on your patio, exposure to natural light and physical activity can help you wake up naturally.
Whether it's going for a brisk walk or just stretching on your patio, exposure to natural light and physical activity can help you wake up naturally. Eat breakfast by a window: If your mornings are limited and you can't find 15 extra minutes to get sunlight, try having your breakfast or coffee near a window.
If your mornings are limited and you can't find 15 extra minutes to get sunlight, try having your breakfast or coffee near a window. Invest in a light therapy lamp: If you have limited access to natural sunlight or live in a region with overcast weather, consider a light therapy device that mimics the spectrum of natural light.