In this sense, sleeping outside keeps us “more in sync with our biology, not just the environment”, he says. By shifting our rhythms earlier, sleeping outdoors has real consequences for our health. “Later sleep timing or a later timing of our circadian rhythm is associated with a number of negative health outcomes. Earlier types have [fewer] health problems – they have less substance abuse, depression, obesity, diabetes,” Wright says.
The effects of sleeping earlier and with less exposure to artificial light are still being studied, but Wright believes we might expect that people would feel better and more alert in the morning after sleeping outside.
Sleeping under the stars
This is certainly Ella Hewton’s experience. As well as being a keen hiker and camper, she is community manager at Love Her Wild, a non-profit women’s adventure company in the UK.
“I think there’s something about just being in those rhythms,” Hewton says. “The birds wake you up with their dawn chorus, and as the light then comes – it’s just a lovely way to wake up, isn’t it?”
Her best night’s sleep happened on a trip that involved no artificial light at all – no phone, no torch, just a fire and woollen blankets to stay warm. Bedtime came earlier, but she did have to wake up a few times to stoke the fire. Despite getting up in the night, she says, “I was more awake during the day. I felt more alive and in-touch with myself and nature, I didn’t feel tired at all. I definitely was sleeping longer.”
READ MORE ON THE NEXT PAGE..
