Sleep Under the Stars: How Camping Resets Your Body Clock for Better Zzzs

Many people struggle with getting a good night’s sleep, especially in our modern world filled with artificial lights and screens. The author of this article shares their own experience of having trouble sleeping, often lying awake at night and trying to avoid looking at their phone. Even though they have camped in many different places, from snowy mountains to rainy forests, sleeping outside was not always easy. However, new research suggests that camping could actually help people sleep better, both during the trip and after returning home.

Scientists have discovered that our bodies have a natural clock called the circadian rhythm, which helps us know when to sleep and wake up. In today’s world, most people go to bed much later than the sun sets, and this can confuse our bodies. Artificial lights from lamps, phones, and computers can make our brains think it is still daytime, making it harder to fall asleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Kenneth Wright, a sleep researcher, wanted to see what would happen if people spent a weekend camping without any artificial light. He took a group of people to the Rocky Mountains, where they spent their days in natural sunlight and their nights in darkness, without using flashlights or phones.

The results were surprising. The campers’ bodies started to adjust to the natural light and dark cycle. Their melatonin levels, which help control sleep, dropped just before they woke up, instead of staying high into the morning like when they slept at home. This meant their bodies were more in sync with nature, and they woke up feeling more alert. The study found that camping could shift people’s sleep schedules earlier by about two hours. This is important because sleeping late has been linked to health problems like feeling tired, having trouble thinking clearly, and even some illnesses.

Other campers have noticed these benefits too. Ella Hewton, who loves hiking and camping, said she felt more alive and connected to nature after sleeping outside. She enjoyed waking up to the sound of birds and found that she slept longer and felt more awake during the day. Even though she had to wake up sometimes to keep the fire going, she still felt better rested. Another study found that people who camped in winter woke up more during the night but still slept better overall than when they were at home.

Sleeping outside can also help people get used to the sounds of nature, like rain, leaves, and birds. Some people even find thunder relaxing and listen to recordings of storm sounds to help them sleep. A survey in the UK found that about one in four campers sleep better outside than in their own beds, mostly because of these natural sounds. Rob Ganley, a camping expert, says that the sounds of owls and other animals can be very calming.

If you want to try camping, there are ways to make it more comfortable. It’s important to use a thick mat under your sleeping bag to stay warm and avoid putting your tent under a tree, so you don’t get woken up by heavy raindrops. Camping doesn’t have to be expensive, and you can even buy used tents. If you’re not ready to camp, you can still help your sleep by turning off bright lights at home before bed and using dimmer, redder lights in the evening.

In the end, camping and spending time outside can help your body get back in tune with nature, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up feeling refreshed. Even if you don’t go camping, making your home darker at night and brighter during the day can help improve your sleep and overall health.