{"id":1433,"date":"2021-06-09T20:08:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-09T20:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/?p=1433"},"modified":"2021-06-28T20:47:06","modified_gmt":"2021-06-28T20:47:06","slug":"sleeping-outdoors-the-secret-to-improving-your-sleep-quantity-and-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/09\/sleeping-outdoors-the-secret-to-improving-your-sleep-quantity-and-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleeping Outdoors: The Secret to Improving Your Sleep Quantity and Quality?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Warmer weather has arrived! With it comes the prospect of spending more time outdoors. While many outdoor enthusiasts simply enjoy feeling close to nature, they may or may not also be aware of the incredible health benefits of camping\u2014including improved sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exactly how does sleeping outdoors improve sleep quality? The answer is the body\u2019s internal clock, also known as the circadian rhythm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Your Body\u2019s Internal Clock<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The circadian rhythm is what keeps the body\u2019s internal processes optimized throughout the 24-hour cycle of the day. It\u2019s important to note that the circadian rhythm is an effect of our biological clock, which regulates the timing of the body\u2019s processes. So, if the circadian rhythm is out of whack, it means that those essential biological processes are not optimized. This leads to issues<\/a> like weight gain, impulsive behavior, poor sleep, and fatigue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research<\/a> has also connected the circadian rhythm to the regulation of our blood sugar, cholesterol, mental health, dementia, and even DNA repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Circadian Rhythm\u2019s Impact on Sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The sleep-wake cycle is an essential part of the circadian rhythm. It tells the body when it’s time to be awake and when it’s time to be asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Light exposure lets our master clock know when people should be more alert, keeping them awake and active. Once it gets dark out, that same clock lets the body know that it needs to start producing melatonin (a sleep-promoting hormone) to tell the brain that it\u2019s time to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the sleep-wake cycle is disrupted, a person can experience sleep disorders like insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea, as those alerts aren\u2019t triggering the ways they should be. This disruption also contributes directly to fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Factors That Can Disrupt the Sleep Cycle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n