A new research reveals that a single weekend
camping trip can help people reset their body clock and get to sleep earlier.
The idea is to stay a few days outdoors and away from artificial
lights.
The research team is working on the
connection between natural and artificial light and sleep patterns. Circadian
rhythm is a natural 24-hour cycle of physical and mental changes happening
in the body. Researchers found out that electric lighting can disrupt that
pattern by as much as two and a half hours. This can delay the sleep pattern as
well.
When the researchers sent a group of eight
people on a camping trip during the summer for a week, they found exciting
results. The night owls turned into early risers.During the camping trip, the group were not
allowed to bring flashlights, flashing cell phones or any other artificial
lights. Only the campfire was lit.
A more current research conducted by a team
from University of Colorado, Boulder and Sweden's Karolinska Institutet and
Stockholm Univeristy, saw similar result. A group of people went on a camping
trip for a week in the middle of winter. Researchers want to know if shorter
days and lower levels of sunlight would be enough to make people to sleep
earlier.
A second group was sent on a camping trip for
only two days and their body clock was reset and they had earlier bed times.
According to Kenneth Wright of University of Colorado Boulder said
that living in modern environments affects the circadian rhythm.
Wright said that late circadian and sleep
timing may have negative effects on performance and health. It could lead into
accidents, reduced work productivity, substance abuse, diabetes, obesity and
mood disorders. He added that people can design their homes and environment to
favour daylight and darkness without having to go on a camping trip.
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