Expert Guidance The Power of Morning Sunlight

The Power of Morning Sunlight

Morning sunlight is important when it comes to supporting our circadian rhythm — especially while traveling. Learn about the benefits of morning sunlight, how to better align with your internal body clock, and tips for managing light exposure when you’re in a different time zone.

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(bright energetic music) Modern science and ancient wisdom agree on this one thing: getting morning sunlight is crucial to recalibrating our circadian rhythm. (logo dings) (upbeat music) I like to think of our circadian rhythm as our internal body clock. Like, did you know sunlight helps our brains understand when we should be awake and when we should be asleep? Fascinating, right? For instance, when it's dark out, (gentle music) (crickets chirping) our brain releases a hormone called melatonin, which is a natural sleeping aid that's created in our bodies. When your eyes are exposed to sunlight, a signal is sent to your brain to shut off melatonin production, and this is what allows you to begin feeling alert for the upcoming day. Now, I know it's tempting when you're traveling to wanna block the world out and just snooze. However, morning sunlight can actually improve your travels and your everyday life. (inhales softly) So let's explore ways we can support our internal body clocks with some sun and boost our overall sense of wellbeing. If your traveling east and your destination is ahead of your original time zone, make sure that your curtains are left open. If your destination is behind your time zone, then ensure that your curtains are closed so you don't disrupt your sleep. (alarm blaring) (sighs) Our bodies work best when things are predictable, so consider waking up and getting sunlight in your eyes at the same time each morning. Lastly, I know how hard it is to get out of bed in the morning, so I like to match my morning sunlight time with a mindful walk. Both great for mind and body. Being from Vancouver, I know all about cloudy days, so if it is a bit gray out, make sure that you spend a little more time outside. (mellow music) Who knew that blue sky had so many benefits? (mellow music continues)...

Details

TypeExpert Guidance

Duration2 min

About your teachers

A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.
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Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.
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As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.
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Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.
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Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.
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