Removing artificial light could also have health benefits that go beyond getting a proper sleep. A body of research shows that too much exposure to artificial light at night can affect blood pressure, hormone regulation and depressive symptoms. Other animals also feel the effects of artificial night-time light – it has been found to disturb amphibians, bats, birds, fish and insects.
A bit more darkness, then, is welcome. Still, Hewton says, sleeping outside can take some getting used to. “The first couple of nights of camping, you’re a bit more conscious of unusual noises that you wouldn’t have at home,” she says. “I probably sleep worse on the first or second night, but then improve as I adapt to being outside.”
Sounds of nature
Those outdoor sounds, once they’re familiar, could even help aid sleep. The UK’s Camping and Caravanning Club conducted a survey of 1,000 campers and found that 56% would recommend outdoor sleeping to people who struggle to nod off at night. Around one-in-four said they personally sleep better outside than they do in their bed at home, with most of these people putting this down to hearing the sounds of nature. They’re soothed by the patter of raindrops, rustling leaves, chirping insects, steadily breaking waves – even the rumble of thunder.
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