Spending more time outdoors could improve sleep

BOSTON - In the winter months, many of us hibernate, spending less time outdoors with less exposure to daylight, but a new study finds this could disrupt our circadian rhythms and impair sleep.

Researchers looked at the sleep patterns of 500 students at the University of Washington in Seattle and found they tended to go to sleep later and sleep in during the winter months, likely due to inadequate exposure to daylight.

The scientists say getting plenty of natural light during the daytime makes it easier to fall asleep at a reasonable time and wake up early the next morning and that getting more morning and midday sun could improve sleep, even on cloudy days. 

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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