Camping may lead to better sleep

Research links natural light with better sleep patterns

Published  3:55 PM EDT Aug 01, 2013

Camping is a classic summer pastime, but now new research suggests that its benefits may extend beyond bonding around the campfire.

ABC's Dr. Timothy Johnson reports that modern conveniences such as computers and TVs can keep people connected and entertained. But they may also keep people up at night, making them more tired during the day.

That's why researchers at the University of Colorado wanted to see what would happen if they took eight volunteers into the great outdoors.

They studied the subjects in two settings: one week in a typical, artificially lit environment and the other week while they camped outside. While the subjects were camping, their sleep cycles changed, and they reported feeling less tired.

The study backs up past research showing that artificial light can lead to disturbances in natural sleep patterns.

The good news is that while not everyone can go camping for a week, most can get more natural sunlight. Go outside during the day, turn off the TV and computer at night, and have a better night's sleep.

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