Today is the first day with no major wind gusts after about four days of having a nor’easter pounding the coast.
We got very little rain, but lots of wind.
And every morning, even with cloud coverage and tree limbs swaying, I’ve sat on my deck for 15 minutes between 6:30 and 7:30am, clad in my mismatched sleepwear and clutching a steaming cup of coffee as I soak in the early morning rays. I usually sit there sipping and just watching and listening for about five minutes, then writing my Morning Pages as prescribed by best-selling author Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way.
Having ushered in fall, along with lighting a pumpkin candle and putting my decorative pumpkins out, I am savoring the cooler temperatures; and I pledge to maintain this morning sunlight ritual through all temperatures, unless we have rain or a blizzard.
Why is this important to me, and why should it be important to you?
I’ve had sleep issues on and off for years. Up until last winter, I’d awaken at 3 or 3:30am, and the very first question that popped in my mind was, “What are we doing?” That question had to do with my very long former relationship. After that relationship ended, I’d wake up around the same time, and immediately, I’d think, “Why wasn’t I enough?”
Several months of phone conversations with one of the nicest people I’d ever met helped restore my sleep until that brief relationship ended. That’s when I knew I needed to focus on a path of healing from the up and down rollercoaster of a once beautiful relationship that included a ten-year engagement.
I kept waking up. Even my hemp gummies failed me, so I obtained my medicinal cannabis card; and while those gummies made me fall asleep peacefully, they didn’t keep me asleep. I knew that early morning sunlight could help with my sleep, so I decided to make it a part of my daily health protocol.
For the past month or so, I sit on my deck after I get up. I’ve even stood in a light drizzle wrapped in a fleece-lined flannel jacket as I indulge in coffee and just breathe in the nature in my back yard. Mind you, I COULD take a walk first thing like I did when I was pregnant with my second son, but coffee beckons… especially after cooler temps arrive.
Why is sunlight between 6am and 9am so important?
- It resets our circadian rhythms, reducing melatonin and increasing cortisol, so we are alert during the day and sleepy in the evening.
- It boosts serotonin levels that help our moods.
- It helps start a countdown for melatonin production in the early evening.
And how should we do this?
- Start with 15 minutes in the morning, and gradually increase your time to at least 30 minutes. Journal, do a news catch up, read, or take a walk (the latter is a great thing to do in the winter!).
- Skip the sunglasses. It’s okay. Most medical professionals agree with this.
- Consider light therapy and invest in a 10,000 lux light therapy box when the outdoor elements just aren’t conducive to being outside.
A clinical review by the University of Michigan Health Sleep Disorders Center indicates that individuals who receive a regular dose of morning sunlight fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer than those who do not.
I’m happy to report that the quality of my sleep has greatly improved. There’s no question my morning ritual is helping, along with acceptance of where I am on my journey and knowing that I am finally healing from the past. I’m also hopeful about my future.
Hope–one of my top values–is a beautiful thing.
Get your sunlight…
Or become a farmer or a commercial fisherman. Something tells me their morning routines and labor make for sweet slumber.
Amy Walton currently shares her bed with a stack of books, a somewhat grumpy feline, and a weighted blanket. She savors waking up with an alarm and greeting the morning outside with a cup of java. Connect with her at amywaltoncoaching@gmail.com.