{"id":6957,"date":"2025-01-26T19:43:23","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T19:43:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettersleep.org\/?p=6957"},"modified":"2025-02-19T19:44:10","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T19:44:10","slug":"seasonal-sleep-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettersleep.org\/blog\/seasonal-sleep-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Seasonal Sleep Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seasonal Sleep Changes: How to Adjust Your Sleep Routine Through the Year<\/span><\/h1>\n

Tips to help you sleep soundly every night of the year\u2014no matter the season.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo but consider what an excellent thing sleep is\u2026 that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

~ Thomas Dekker, Elizabethan dramatist and writer\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As Dekker alludes, sleep and health go hand in hand, affecting both our minds and bodies. To keep ourselves healthy, we need to be aware of how seasonal changes affect our sleep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our bodies follow the same rhythm as nature. We have a<\/span> circadian rhythm<\/span><\/a>, just like all animals and plants. This<\/span> 24-hour cycle<\/span><\/a> helps our bodies and minds use our environment to our advantage. Our circadian rhythm signals that it\u2019s time to sleep when it\u2019s dark, our core body temperature drops, and our bodies start producing more melatonin. Likewise, our circadian rhythm tells us when to wake up with the morning sun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Changes in natural light have a drastic impact on our seasonal sleep patterns. In today\u2019s blog, we\u2019ll look closer at why this happens and explore ways to mitigate disruptions to our sleep year-round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When do the seasons change?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The answer to this question depends on whether we want to know the date for <\/span>the astronomical or meteorological start of the seasons<\/span><\/a>. When we talk about the seasons, we typically use the astronomical start. These dates vary slightly from year to year, and the sun’s position in relation to the Earth impacts the exact days. Most calendars print the start astronomical start dates for the seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meteorologists and others in the scientific community are more likely to use the meteorological start dates. The 12-month calendar and annual temperature cycle determine these days, which are consistent every year.<\/span><\/p>\n

The length of the seasons ranges from about 89 to about 94 days. The first days of the seasons in 2025 are:<\/span><\/p>\n

Astronomical Start (on or near)<\/span><\/h3>\n