A new solution for insomniacs have been discovered in the form of camping. New research suggests that instead of lying in bed miserably forcing yourself to sleep, try setting up your bed in the great outdoors. The new Colorado study, published in the journal Current Biology, also encourages people to get rid of artificial lights when trying to get some sleep.
A few days of camping in the great outdoors is enough to help reset our body clocks by promoting getting to bed earlier, researchers say. The study involved sending five people camping in the middle of winter in Colorado. They were not allowed to take flashlights or mobile devices to avoid exposure to artificial blue light.
After a weeks of camping, the campers' melatonin levels, which control sleep-wake cycle, were found to have shifted. This change makes people went to sleep earlier. Experts say we can simulate the same process without having to spend the night out in the cold, by exposing ourselves to more sunlight during the day, and reducing exposure to artificial light at night, the WNYT reports.
Moreover, according to a new study, it only takes a couple of nights in the tent to reset the body’s internal clock, making people fall asleep more quickly. Modern living have largely altered the condition to which we go to sleep. Some negative effects of going to bed late are sleepiness and reduced productivity during the day, mood disorders, and metabolic issues that lead to diabetes and obesity, The Telegraph reports.
NHS' original guidance on insomnia includes avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol at night, and avoiding to nap during the day. Now, the recent research includes a new solution which is fun and offers a way to reconnect with nature. “If a person wants to go to bed at an earlier hour, then a weekend camping could be just the thing,” research leader, Dr Kenneth Wright says.
