Abundant daylight helps people fall asleep earlier, stabilizes their sleep patterns, and increases the duration of deep sleep. This conclusion was reached by researchers from the University of Manchester. The results of their study were reported by the journal Medical Xpress.
The experiment involved 89 adults. They were fitted with sensors that measured melanopic illuminance, which refers to the portion of light exposure that most strongly influences circadian rhythms. At the same time, the participants used sleep trackers and regularly filled out diaries. In total, data was collected over more than 500 days of observation. The analysis showed that individuals who spent more time in bright daylight generally fell asleep earlier and got out of bed earlier.
Those who avoided sharp transitions between overly dim and very bright lighting were more likely to experience deep sleep during the first half of the night. This stage is crucial for the body’s recovery, healthy memory function, and overall well-being.
The researchers highlight a mismatch between modern lifestyles and the natural light cycle. During the day, people usually work in spaces with poor lighting, while in the evenings they use bright lamps and screens. As a result, the body gets too little light during wakefulness and too much before sleep. The authors recommend spending more time in natural daylight to support circadian rhythms.
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