It may surprise you to learn that current research has shown that insomnia isn’t a natural part of old age.  Yes, as you get older your body may produce less melatonin, a hormone that helps you sleep, but you might be making the problem worse if you don’t get enough sunlight during the day time.

A Japanese study compared nursing home residents with insomnia to residents who didn’t have sleeping problems, and also to healthy college students.  When researchers made sure the elderly insomniacs got an extra four hours of bright light a day, their nighttime melatonin levels increased to match those of the young group.  Their sleeping patterns also improved.

Sunlight affects your melatonin levels, and it also affects your body’s internal clock.  Your internal clock is the body’s time table for when it’s time to sleep and when it’s time to wake up.  So before you turn to sleeping pills, try these simple natural sunlight remedies.

Sunlight remedies

Get outdoors:
A good way to get sunlight is simply by stepping outside and enjoying the day.  Take a walk around the block.  Not only will you get some sunlight, you’ll get a little exercise too.  And, too little exercise can contribute to insomnia.

Sit in a sunny room:
If it’s too cold to get outdoors, then pick a spot where you live that the sun shines in and soak up the sunshine while doing some kind of indoor activity.  Just by moving to a room on the sunny side of the house, you might get the extra sunlight you need.

Buy a sun lamp: 
Okay, if it’s too miserable to go outdoors, and it’s a cloudy day, how do you get sun light.  Buy a sun lamp.

Please read our article on SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) which has to do with why many of us feel depressed in the winter when there is no sun shine.  We recommend what kind of sun lamp to buy so that you have artificial if not real sun light.

Do remember to use your sunlamp in the morning so that you remind your body that it’s morning and sunshine replaces darkness in the early AM.

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