Want a Better Night's Sleep? Go Camping

Discover how a weekend of camping can reset your biological clock by two hours and reduce risks of depression and heart disease. New 2026 research from the University of Colorado.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 10:55 AM EDT

Source: BBC new

The Science: Reseting the Circadian Clock

Kenneth Wright, director of the Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory at the University of Colorado Boulder, has spent years studying the impact of natural light on human biology.

The Two-Hour Shift: In a landmark study, participants who spent a week camping in the Rocky Mountains with no artificial light (no phones, no torches) saw their circadian rhythms shift two hours earlier.

Melatonin Regulation: In a modern home environment, melatonin levels (the hormone that signals "night") often stay high for hours after waking, causing morning grogginess. In the wild, melatonin levels drop just before dawn, allowing campers to wake up feeling alert.

Health Outcomes: Aligning your clock with the sun is linked to lower rates of obesity, diabetes, depression, and substance abuse.

Winter vs. Summer: Seasonal Sleep Biology