Posted on 12/12/2022 8:08:54 PM PST by ConservativeMind
A study measuring the sleep patterns of students has turned up some surprises about how and when our bodies tell us to sleep—and illustrates the importance of getting outside during the day, even when it's cloudy.
The study found that UW students fell asleep later in the evening and woke up later in the morning during—of all seasons—winter, when daylight hours are limited.
The data showed that in winter students received less light exposure during the day. Other research has indicated that getting insufficient light during the day leads to problems at night, when it's time for bed.
"Our bodies have a natural circadian clock that tells us when to go to sleep at night," said Horacio de la Iglesia. "If you do not get enough exposure to light during the day, that 'delays' your clock and pushes back the onset of sleep at night."
Data showed that daytime light exposure had a greater impact than evening light exposure in the UW study. Each hour of daytime light "moved up" the students' circadian phases by 30 minutes. Even outdoor light exposure on cloudy or overcast winter days in Seattle had this effect, since that light is still significantly brighter than artificial indoor lighting. Each hour of evening light—light from indoor sources like lamps and computer screens—delayed circadian phases by an average of 15 minutes.
"It's that push-and-pull effect," said de la Iglesia. "And what we found here is that since students weren't getting enough daytime light exposure in the winter, their circadian clocks were delayed compared to summer."
"What this study shows is that we need to get out—even for a little while and especially in the morning—to get that natural light exposure. In the evening, minimize screen time and artificial lighting to help us fall asleep."
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Do remember to reduce lights at night, to prepare your body for sleep.
Yawn
Survival instincts could also be a factor when food supplies are more scarce during the winter months.
>> Our bodies have a natural circadian clock
Most bodies... I’d prefer a longer day
haha
i read awhile back that there is a gene or something that makes a person either a ‘morning person or a night person’- i was always a night person- graveyard shift- that’s when i felt the best-
Early morning BLUE light especially. It’s resets the timer for sleep.
Like we are getting now?
I stopped reading at this point: “The data showed that in winter students received less light exposure during the day”.
December is usually the wettest month in Seattle.
If we have rain clouds, it is literally night time at 4 PM.
The sun comes up around 8 AM, and it is low in the sky ALL day.
Most days, the only light you see in December and January is electric light!
What a doctor told me was that I should spend at least 10 minutes each morning outside. That the early morning defraction of the atmosphere meant that there was MUCH more blue light around during that time. He even stated that we have special receptors in our eyes for JUST that color of light. So, early morning exposure.
Thanks.
I always thought that blue light came from computer screens and such.
I have to get home by about 3:30 when I’m out because it’s dark enough by then for people to turn on their headlights and light blinds me. OK to drive three blocks to Trader Joe, but no further.
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