In my 37 years of chiropractic practice, I can’t tell you how many people have told me for no reason that they sleep better. This is unfortunate because getting enough sleep is vital to our health. There are natural and safe ways to improve your sleep quality. This article describes useful ways to get a good night’s sleep and complete relaxation.
Many of us are at home, school and work in the morning and don’t get natural light until the afternoon. Being exposed to the morning sun seems like a no-brainer. Before noon, I recommend trying to sunbathe outside.
If possible, try to go 15-30 minutes before dawn or at least before noon. Keep in mind that indoor light, while good for vision, is not the same as full-spectrum sunlight.
When external sunlight enters the human eye, it activates receptors that send excitatory nerve input to the brain. The brain uses a process called photobiomodulation to send signals to all the trillions of individual cells in the body.
Photobiomodification basically tells the body what time it is. Humans are creatures of the day. Daytime means that we usually sleep when it’s dark and do our work while awake during the day. But we must use the darkness of day and night to control our daily life. If we don’t establish this regular rhythm, we will have less consistent, natural, and restful sleep.
The earlier we get out in the day, the better the results, because it’s better to train during the day and sleep better at night. Even on a cloudy day, the light outside has enough of a spectrum to stimulate our brains when we are exposed to sunlight.
It’s not that hard to fit your schedule into a busy life that gets a little light in the morning. For example, a person may be at home before noon and do some work outside. An apartment or apartment building just needs a walk to get some exercise before lunch. Children who stay at home sleep better when they are encouraged to play outside during the day rather than later.
People who work in buildings can get into their cars early or use public transportation and be out in the morning sun for 15 to 20 minutes.
In the morning light the boys are perfectly positioned for the first sunrise. Older and less comfortable children can easily walk to the station, if it is a long walk to school or station, it will be worth spending an extra day before dawn.
It may take a few weeks of following what I recommend here to find a regular daytime pattern and get into a sleep routine. If the benefits of good sleep are appreciated, they will have far-reaching effects on our health and many aspects of our lives.
