ANCSLEEP BLOG

The season does not only come with changes in the environment, or changes in your mood. They also come with changes in your sleep. With each new season, the light patterns vary, which can cause your sleep to fluctuate. 

This is because light controls our sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm. Therefore, increased light during the spring and summer months can have different effects than decrease light during the fall and winter months. 

Not only does light play a role, but so does temperature. Colder temperatures make you want to sleep longer than warmer temperatures. 

Knowing what these seasonal fluctuations are, and how they can impact your sleep may be useful for helping you manage your sleep. You can make the necessary changes by based on whatever the season is and your sleep requirements. Continue reading to learn more!

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive mood disorder that affects people only at certain parts of the year. It mostly affects people in the winter months, after daylights savings, when it gets dark very early in the day. The lack of light that most people are exposed to during this part of the year can create feelings of sadness, a lack of motivation, the desire to sleep a lot, and other symptoms synonymous with depression. 

The thing that makes SAD unique from depression is that it is not year round. It affects as much as 3% of people inthe US, with lower energy, a lack of concentration and irritability, and sleeping issues. Continue reading to learn more about SAD's effect on sleep.  

Alaskan winters are characterized by a lot of darkness. This makes it easier to go to sleep at night, but waking up can be a struggle. However, if you work a standard 8-5 job, are in school, or do anything that requires you to wake up energized, then these dark mornings may be quite the struggle. Here are a few things you can do to help you wake up energized, even if it's dark and cold outside. 

Alaskan Summer Transition Adjustment Difficulty - Factors

Alaska is a big state with differences in the amount of light that is emitted across the year. The southern parts of the state have light transitions that are uncomfortable, but not significantly different from the northern part of the lower 48. However, from Anchorage to the far north, the transition is very drastic, and as extreme as it gets. 

How much you have to prepare for your transition, and how much it may affect you, largely depends upon:

• How far north you are
• How sensitive you are to light
• What existing measures you have taken to normalize your circadian rhythm during the winter

On the last bullet point if you have been diligent about any of the following, the transition will likely be easier:

• Using light therapy
• Maintaining pre-sleep rhythm
• Having consistent exercise and eating/drinking habits
• Vitamin D therapy

See: Ways to keep a normal sleep schedule in Alaskan winters

Alaskan Summer Transition Adjustment Difficulty - Factors

Alaska’s big. This hardly needs be said. It’s particularly big from North to south: over 1,300 miles. The difference is this: the southern parts of Alaska have summer light transitions that are uncomfortable but not drastically different than much of the norther part of the lower 48. From Anchorage on up, the transition ranges from drastic to as extreme as it gets.