Can Weather Change Affect Your Sleep?

[WilsonFitbit]

Hello everyone. 😊

A new week has just started with many new opportunities 🤗 and I hope you all had a great weekend. Specially, I hope you had enough time to rest after a hard week. 

Do you guys think that weather change can affect the way we sleep? I personally have a hard time getting a good night's sleep on warm nights. But what I actually do is to try a warm bath or shower before going to bed. After getting out of the warm water, our bodies temperature will naturally drop, which will help facilitate sleep.

Wearing cooler clothes in the hottest months is another helpful tip. Putting a slumber gel pad on our mattress can further reduce heat. A ceiling fan above our bed can create an additional chill effect. What about you? What do you usually do in this situation? 

On the opposite side, winter cold can bring Insomnia. This is not something that I experience, but the colder months of winter create a different scenario that can affect sleep. Seems that less sunlight in the winter can trigger mood disorders, which in turn, can lead to insomnia. When you don't get enough sunlight, your brain does not produce enough melatonin from serotonin, which are the chemicals in your brain that help produce a good night's sleep.

Fortunately, there are some tips. So, it's it's best to get some outdoor exercise during the day for at least a half hour, unless it's raining or snowing. Activities can range from walking to skiing. By getting outside in the morning, you can boost your melatonin levels, which will help both your mood and your ability to go to sleep at night. You should also stay away from substances that block melatonin production, such as caffeine, alcohol, chocolate or certain pharma drugs.

In addition, certain fruits boost melatonin levels more effectively. Pineapple, bananas and oranges are some of the most powerful fruits that can significantly raise melatonin. Supplements, however, are a weak substitute for real fruit. Other foods that can boost melatonin levels include oats, rice, tomatoes and barley.

If you have some tips about how you usually manage this, please share them here in this thread. I promise I'll take the time to read your experiences 😁

See you around. 

[SunsetRunner]

Since weather changes can affect my arthritis, they also affect my sleep. I always thought my Grandma was exaggerating  when she said she could predict weather She wasn’t. It’s true! 

I manage the changes by being aware and listening to my body. It was difficult for me. I used to just push past pain, no matter what. I’ve since learned that an afternoon nap and soothing music while meditating before bedtime can really help. The Fitbit Relax app is also helpful. 

[WilsonFitbit]

Thanks for sharing, @SunsetRunner. 

I'm very glad to hear that the Fitbit Relax Feature on the App is helpful for you! 😊 In my case I suffer from arm pain when weather is too cold and sometimes I just try to ignore that. I'll put into practice what you mentioned and I'll see how it goes. 

Have a wonderful day!