Living in Alaska poses unique sleeping challenges most months out of the year. Other than a few months between “spring” and “fall” in Alaska, we are dealing with darkness that lasts most, or all, of the day, or light that lasts most, or all, of the night.
Alaskans’ sleeping schedules are unique. While it sounds reasonable to think, “Summer in Alaska is for long, fun days and winters are for lots of sleep,” it’s actually not quite that simple. As you go further north, things get even more complex. Our extreme lighting conditions affect our lives in many different ways that can be incredibly disruptive to sleep.
The reason our sleeping schedules are affected by lighting changes is because extreme lighting and weather conditions affect our lives:
Many of us are completely different people in summer and winter, with different sleeping patterns, different workout patterns, social patterns, and so on.
Especially in the winter, many of Alaskans have mental, cognitive, or emotional responses to the total darkness, and their behavior changes alongside. Those who are not into winter activities like skiing, skating, etc. are at a higher risk of experiencing these changes.
It’s no secret that we are living under unique circumstances in Alaska, about half of the year it is dark, and the other half of the year it is light. Though it might seem counterintuitive, winter in Alaska makes sleep more difficult for many people, especially as one travels north.
Excess darkness can be extremely disruptive to three things aspects that are essential for the onset of sleep:
As the winter season approaches, it's crucial to be aware of the various factors that can hurt your circadian rhythm. By understanding these factors, you can effectively prepare for and combat insomnia during this time of year. Delving deeper into the causes and effects of circadian rhythm will enable you to take the necessary steps to safeguard against its disruption. Let's delve into the fascinating world of circadian rhythm.
Much of the year in Alaska, we live in either extreme darkness or extreme light. These extreme conditions affect our lives in many different ways:
Unfortunately, the long darkness affects our lives in ways that aren’t usually conducive to sleep. Perhaps you suspect that you have developed a sleep disorder or your existing sleep disorder has flared up.
Alaskans have to work harder to maintain a normal sleep schedule in winter. The good news is that there are many tricks you can use to help maintain a normal sleep schedule, though some people will need more direct intervention from sleep specialists or healthcare practitioners.
Alaskan summers can make having a sleep schedule feel impossible. If you’re reading this, you are likely one of those people.
Summers and Winters in Alaska can both be hard on getting enough sleep. The extreme lighting conditions don’t provide the transition from light to dark and dark to light in the morning/evening that prompts us to get tired and wake up. Because of this, setting a good sleep routine can be extremely hard.
Alaskan summers can hit your sleep schedule hard. If you’re reading this, you are likely one of those people. And it’s not just the midnight sun, or lower down in Alaska the “twilight night.” Alaskan summers can make it hard for many Alaskan’s to sleep because:
Much of the year in Alaska, we live in either the extreme darkness or extreme lightness. These extreme lighting conditions affect our lives in many different ways:
Other than a few months out of the year between “spring” and “fall” in Alaska, living here poses unique sleeping related to either receiving mostly (or only) daylight or mostly (or only) darkness. These extreme lighting conditions affect our lives in many different ways, most of which can be very disruptive towards sleep.
Living in Alaska poses unique sleeping challenges most months out of the year. Other than a few months out of the year between “spring” and “fall” in Alaska, we are dealing with darkness that lasts most (or all) of the day, or light that lasts most (or all) of the night.