Topics: Sleep Apnea, Healthy Sleep, sleep test, sleeping problem, sleep deprivation
Whether its difficulty in nodding off or trouble staying asleep, longer daylight hours and hotter temperatures can make it harder to get the rest you need. There are a lot of things we look forward to in the summer season i.e. better Whether its difficulty in nodding off or trouble staying asleep, longer daylight hours and hotter temperatures can make it harder to get the rest you need. There are a lot of things we look forward to in the summer season i.e. better weather, good food, and vacations. Sleep is also one such issue, if you also find it difficult to sleep during summers, well, you’re not alone. Hotter temperatures and longer daylight hours make it even harder to get rested properly. Twisting and turning the whole night can become a task in itself. However, there are some ways to deal with it.
Read below to learn why and what you can do about your sleeping problems.
Why you find it difficult to sleep during summers?
As we all observe every season that seasonal variation can affect how well we sleep. We all tend to wake up a little earlier than usual during summertime whereas sleep issues such as insomnia and fatigue are less common during winter (however, some people can still have sleep issues in winter). Mentioned below are some reasons why you don’t sleep well during summertime.
Increased daylight hours
Exposure to the light during daytime contributes more to the episodes of waking up during the night and less slow-wave or delta sleep. This sleep phase contributes to the sensation of restfulness. Some study identifies light as one of the most important exterior factor affecting the circadian system. The human body’s internal clock helps in controlling our sleep-wake cycle. The longer we see light the longer body clock will signal that we need to be awake. The body clock present in our brain signals and guides the body about day and night time.
Delayed melatonin release
As soon as it gets dark, our body clock signals that it’s time to sleep with the release of a hormone named melatonin. When the sun comes up, melatonin secretion gets stopped so that body can prepare for the day. Due to the longer daylight hours during summers, the melatonin secretion is lesser as compared to the winters. This is one of the reasons behind waking up early and lesser sleep during summers.
Lifestyle factors may also be at play
Because the days are longer during summers, our productivity is more and we tend to socialize more. Considering the summertime lifestyle, we might eat in later hours and consume more hard drinks. All of this is more likely to affect sleep patterns. Also, our sleeping hours might decrease as it is common to hit bed during late and wake up early in the morning with bright sunlight.
How to get the rest you need?
Don’t despair with the sleep you lose during summer time. There are ways which can solve your sleeping problems and the rest you needed during long summer days.
You can start with the following tips.
- Keep a consistent schedule
- Decrease your exposure to light during the day
- Keep your night time temperature low
- Learn how to relax
- Darken your room before bed
However, if you’re having uninterrupted sleep but still going through daytime drowsiness, you should go for a sleep test to know more about your sleep quality.
