Summer usually puts us in a happier mood, whatever else might be going on in the world. Everything, that is, except sleep. Long, sunny days and sweltering nights can leave the best of us tossing and turning, fixating on imaginary mosquitoes when we should be snoozing. So much for that relaxing nap in the garden.
We humans are diurnal creatures, which means our circadian rhythms revolve around daylight. As light levels fall, levels of the sleep hormone melatonin rise, signalling to the brain that it’s time to wind down. This in turn triggers a drop in blood pressure and body temperature, calming the nervous system and preparing us for sleep. When light levels rise with the sun, melatonin levels drop, signalling to the brain that it’s time to wake up. However, unfortunately, the increased daylight hours of summer can disrupt melatonin production.