Winter sun over the Rockies (Image by Sleep and Chronobiology Lab, University of Colorado Boulder)
Shorter days and cooler temperatures prevent us from spending as much time outdoors in the winter than we do in the summer. But new research suggests that better sleep in the winter requires spending more time outside. Recent data suggest that, thanks to our modern lifestyles, our light exposure in the winter is reduced by 13 times. We make up for it with electrical light and screen time, but that doesn’t help us sleep better; in fact, other studies have suggested it’s actually worsening our sleep quality. Researchers recommend spending time outdoors during the day in the winter to return your body to a more regular circadian rhythm.
Authors:
Ellen R. Stothard, Andrew W. McHill, Christopher M. Depner, Brian R. Birks, Thomas M. Moehlman, Hannah K. Ritchie, Jacob R. Guzzetti, Evan D. Chinoy, Monique K. LeBourgeois, John Axelsson, Kenneth P. Wright Jr.
Corresponding author:
Kenneth Wright, Department of Integrative Physiology, Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory, University of Colorado Boulder, Email: kenneth.wright@colorado.edu
Original paper published in Current Biology on February 2, 2017.
