Sleeping Under the Stars
As summer comes to an end, and the temperatures become bearable again, now is the perfect time for a little weekend get-a-way for some peace and quiet. You might find that straying from the city lights, and venturing off to a serene place under the starlit sky may be your destination.
Heading out to an environment without clocks, deadlines, chores, and electronics is good for one’s peace of mind, and also gives you a chance to re-calibrate your sleeping patterns that have been tossed around in the midst of the work-week sea.
Being chained to your desk and excessive urgency for electronic gadgets throughout the week are guilty as charged for your lack of sleep. The byproducts of sleep deprivation and daily stresses can result in serious health problems, decrease in production levels, and destruction of your internal clock.
Research suggests our circadian rhythms have been a mess ever since electric lighting was introduced in the 1930’s. The comforts of modern living and technology disrupt the brains circadian rhythms (your internal clock) and abbreviate the release of natural melatonin, which explains why so many of us have a hard time falling asleep and feeling like going right back to bed as soon as we wake.
The key to resetting your body’s clock is spending some time outdoors with natural lighting. Think about it, the sun goes down, the campfire comes out, a few hours later, your body takes a shift and a new sleeping pattern has been invited. The sun comes out, and you are up preparing for the day, enjoying as much sunlight as possible until sunset. After we have been exposed to these natural cues, melatonin levels are able to rise and fall, suggesting that our brain starts to promote wakefulness or sleepiness. A quiet, countryside mini-cation may be long overdue, it’s time to disconnect from you gadgets so you can experience tranquility and restoration. Just try your best not to “tweet” about it.