Spending nights under the stars is much more than taking a break from your everyday life. Vacations have always been viewed as a great way to getaway and recharge your batteries. Recent research now explains part of the reasons why we feel so good.
A report recently published in the Current Biology journal reveals that camping for a week can reset the body’s natural internal clock. The study hypothesized that the biggest culprit of insomnia is electric light. Although electric light is arguably one of the most important human inventions, it has a side effect of interrupting natural circadian rhythms.
In the study, the volunteer subjects went camping for a week but were limited to only natural light sources, i.e. no flashlights or other electronics. By the end of the week the internal clocks of the campers had reset and synchronized with the natural light-dark cycle. Most of the subjects’ body clocks were reset earlier by two hours.
The benefits of getting a good night’s sleep are nothing new, but now it’s easier to understand what’s preventing it from happening. So what should we do? Cut the electricity to our homes? At least knowing how our bodies are reacting to the artificial light helps. Maybe the best solution is to upgrade our vacation habits from ‘rarely’ to ‘frequently.’
Photo: The Resort at Paws Up
And because of my biased opinion I would add that the bed you sleep in will affect your results. Camping implies sleeping on the ground, which can be, if we’re honest, downright uncomfortable. Going to bed at a better hour is great, but if you’re sleeping on a rocky, uneven ground you won’t wake up feeling refreshed. This is where glamping comes in – sleep in a king-size bed while “camping.” I happen to know of a website where you can find a plethora of glamping choices. This would be great for a follow-up test. There would be no trouble finding volunteers to participate.
It’s always good news when doing the things you love also improves your health. So, happily add “health reasons” to your list of justifications for planning your next glamping adventure today. Now, take a vacation and go glamping – your health depends on it!
Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Paws Up Montana, USA
Turtle Inn, Belize
El Capitan Canyon, USA
Chem Chem Safari Lodges, Tanzania
Cuckoo Down Farm, UK
Whitepod, Switzerland
Emerald Glamping, Ireland
Canonici Di San Marco, Italy
4 Rivers Floating Lodge, Cambodia
Tiger Tops, Nepal
