Whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, everyone wants to shake off the grogginess and feel alert in the morning as quickly as possible. It just so happens that morning sunlight will do the trick.
Here’s what science says about morning light benefits:
- Releases hormones linked to improved mood
- Tells the brain to shut down melatonin production (the hormone that helps you sleep)
- Then signals the brain to release wake-promoting neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine and histamine –all of which can make you feel good.
- Keeps the body’s circadian rhythm in sync so you can fall asleep when you need to and wake up feeling more energetic.
Seems like common sense and an easy thing to do (assuming the sun is shining), but you’d be surprised how many of us don’t actually take advantage of this natural and plentiful source of alertness. When you allow morning light to help you wake up your body and mind, you rely less on caffeine which can affect your natural sleep-wake cycle.
