Daylight is the new Daytime TV

DAYLIGHT IS THE NEW DAYTIME TV

How just 20 minutes of daylight can give you a better night’s sleep.

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Good morning have some new

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Britain, we ws for you.

We can help you sleep better!

Daylight is the new daytime TV and we propose a new behaviour change campaign for retired people over the age of 60. Retired people on lower incomes are staying indoors watching television most of the day and into the evening. This makes your body unable to differentiate night and day.

When it is time to sleep the body cannot fully enter the deepest level of the REM cycle which makes you more likely to wake up more times during the night. This can lead to fatigue, health problems and even depression. Many sleep troubles can disappear by implementing outdoor activities to increase exposure to daylight and physical activity. The connection of the two will contribute to creating a clear sense of day and night and allows the body to reach a more restful state of sleep. It will lead to feeling refreshed with more energy and a better relationship with sleep.

Joining local walking or coffee groups in order to make the activities a sociable and planned routine, walking instead of driving to the local shops, even spending some time in your own back garden. Just 20 minutes of sunlight will boost your sleep quality. This change in behaviour helps with medical conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes through increased physical activity. It’s a holistic initiative that has the capability to improve a person’s mind, body and soul.

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There are plenty of opportunities to add daylight into your day, some are things you do often but perhaps you could do even more of. If you have grandchildren or family friends with children, why not offer to take them to the local park or for longer days out. This will of course be an enjoyable day for everyone and give structure to your day. Remember, your activities don’t all need to be outside as you are showing your body the difference between the day where you are active, and the night where it is time to rest, which helps get your sleeping pattern.

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Countdown to sunshine

How a more active day makes for a restful night.

If you’re a dog lover and no longer have one yourself, why not offer to walk a friend’s. There are plenty of people who work long hours and their pets need to be walked or even just let them out for a toilet break during the day. Or perhaps you could find out what is happening in your community to see if there is anything you could help out with. Volunteering can be so rewarding as it would provide a regular routine of working with other people, getting physical and mental activity and allows you to connect to the community.

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Escape to your garden!

The sleep fix that doesn’t cost a thing! zZZ

Even 20 minutes is enough time for you to get that vital daylight.

You don’t even have to leave your home to get a small burst of daylight. Light gardening work may only take 15 – 30 minutes and could be that chore you had been meaning to do for weeks. Or even just choosing to have your lunch or a cup of tea outside instead of in front of the television. Granted this isn’t always possible during the winter but you can put your best coat and wellies on and have a walk around the garden; remember even 20 minutes is enough to get that vital daylight on your cheeks. Think how much better you’ll sleep at night knowing your garden is in tip top shape.

You don’t even have to leave your home to get a small burst of daylight. Light gardening work may only take 15 – 30 minutes and could be that chore you had been meaning to do for weeks. Or even just choosing to have your lunch or a cup of tea outside instead of in front of the television. Granted this isn’t always possible during the winter but you can put your best coat and wellies on and have a walk around the garden; remember even 20 minutes is enough to get that vital daylight on your cheeks. Think how much better you’ll sleep at night knowing your garden is in tip top shape.

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This morning!

Go and meet a for coffee.

There are plenty of local coffee groups that meet up regularly and welcome new members. This may not be an outside activity but having regular events in your diary will also create the difference between day and night for your body.

It is also a great opportunity to create new friendships within your community that can inspire you to make other plans that increase your physical activity and exposure to daylight. Find out when your local coffee groups meet through notices at the community centre, adverts in the local paper or by searching “local coffee groups near me� online.

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g! a friend

Who would have thought coffee would help you sleep! zZZ

Loose women join a walking

There are walking groups in every region of the country for you to get involved in that range from light walks around the area to country walks that can take several hours. Find the right one for you and you can gain new friends as well as having a regular commitment to physical activity and exposure to sunlight. Two thirds, (77.1%) of adults aged between 65 and 74 are obese or overweight and this can have a wide spread effect on your health, besides your quality of sleep.

These walking groups will also provide that connection to people that you might have missed out on in recent years. It is so important for your mental health to speak to people about whatever is on your mind; whether it be your health or what happened on Corrie last night. You deserve to have friendships that may lead to other activities that helps you to regularly go out together and both get that much-needed daylight.

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(and men) group!

77% of 65 - 74 year olds are obese.

Let’s fix that figure. zZZ

The tipping poi of your health

20% of adults aged 65+ are taking anti-depressants zZZ

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If you live within a 15-minute walk to your local shops, try walking instead of driving. This would be an easy dose of sunlight for your body whilst running an errand you would be doing anyway. Getting your shopping in smaller amounts throughout the week is more manageable to carry as well as having the daylight each day without you noticing and hopefully without even breaking a sweat!

Increasing your physical activity will not only improve your quality of sleep but may also decrease your need for medications for conditions such as joint pain, diabetes and more because of your improved quality of life. Changing your diet can also aid your quality of sleep, yes you’ve been told to eat a balanced diet your whole life but it could be the final thing holding you back from a better night’s sleep. It is essential that you speak to your doctor before making any big changes to your lifestyle and the medications you are or aren’t taking.

There have been studies in Denmark, which has some of the darkest winters, that has found a 10% increase of depression in the transition to winter. This shows the serious effects that a lack of sunlight can cause for people who spend most of their day indoors. It can be really difficult to change your routine and potentially you may miss out on some of your favourite programs, but the benefits of better sleep, more energy and a more active physical and social life will surely be more enjoyable.

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GREAT SLEEP IS AS EASY AS... enjoying the sunshine walking to the corner shop buying a pint of milk getting the paper walking the dog grabbing a coffee watering the flowers going to the post office zZZ

Life changing sleep with just a few life changes.

getting a book at the library walking with friends going to the park playing with your grandchildren joining a club having your lunch outside volunteering in the community going swimming zZZ

When was the last time you had a good night’s

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