Time In Nature, a weekly series by Nicole Carullo.
Sleep is elusive. Most of us–whether we’re lifelong insomniacs or simply fighting a bout of bad jet lag–are in search of more of it.
Melatonin gummies, meditation, counting sheep–oftentimes, we’re willing to try anything to catch a few extra z’s. It makes sense, of course, why we are in constant pursuit of a good night’s sleep. The benefits are numerous–it’s well-documented that those who get seven or more hours of sleep each night experience less stress and are on the whole happier and healthier than those who don’t.
It’s not just the quantity of sleep that’s important, though, but the quality. Deep sleep and REM, or rapid eye movement, are two stages of sleep in which your brain processes memories from the day, and decides which ones to hold onto. During deep sleep, your body also recuperates itself, keeping both your bones and immune system going strong. In order to feel well-rested and clear-headed, it’s essential to sleep deeply enough to reap these rewards. A few hours of light sleep aren’t going to cut it.
Often though, long periods of deep sleep can be hard to come by, and a lot of that has to do with our environment. Cities, with their limited access to green space and an excess of light and noise pollution, don’t exactly encourage rest. Living in a verdant neighborhood helps, but truly unplugging away from the noise is tough to beat.
According to this study, time spent in lush, natural spaces can do wonders for our sleep patterns. That’s largely because in nature, we move our bodies more and experience less anxiety, a winning combination when it comes to conking out at night.
Another study backs this up, and names three major contributors to better sleep: a daily routine, physical activity, and exposure to green spaces. If you’ve ever slept especially soundly after a long hike, or a swim in the sea, you know this to be true. We’ve felt it, too. Now, we know why.
So, the next time you consider uncapping a bottle of melatonin, consider getting out in the green instead. It might bring you that elusive thing you’ve been searching for.
