keeping the curtains open could improve your sleep, received from Saga, 2026 04 07
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Colin Howard
Apr 8, 2026, 2:40:38 AMApr 8
to post AVIP list
Greetings,
Interesting, how does light affect those who have never seen light? I am
aware there are light-sensative cells in other parts of our bodies besides
our eyes, maybe these are affected and can cause problems with sleep. I am
well aware, having lost most of my sight in my twenty third year and am only
able to see extremely bright light, how my circadiam rhythm nowadays is
affected by these matters, I normally have a blind on my bedroom window
which is permanently half-closed.
Some believe waking up to natural light helps you sleep better, but before
you pull up the blinds, hear what the experts have to say.
By Hannah Verdier | Published - 30 Mar 2026
Do you need total darkness to sleep or do you prefer to let the light flood
in
According to devotees of The Dutch Method, leaving your curtains open, your
bedroom floods with natural light works with your circadian rhythm, the
internal body clock which regulates your sleep cycle.
Followers find it makes them more alert in the morning, so they sleep better
at night. The NHS emphasises good sleep hygiene, but the right conditions
vary from person to person as your preferences are so individual.
What are the advantages of leaving your curtains open?
Sleep consultant and founder of The Sleep Works Maryanne Taylor explains The
Dutch Method is based on how light influences our sleep-wake cycle.
"When natural light enters the room in the morning, it helps stop melatonin
[the sleep hormone] and triggers a natural rise in cortisol, which is what
helps us feel alert and signals to our brain the day has begun," Taylor
says.
If you don't fancy setting your alarm, but want to wake up gently, letting
the light in is a gentle, gradual and calmer way to do it.
Daylight in the morning triggers a natural rise in cortisol
What are the drawbacks of drawing back those curtains?
Nicole Ratcliffe is a sleep educator at The Workplace Sleep Coach and she
falls into the curtains-shut camp. "I sleep in pitch black and even in the
summer I'll close the blinds an hour before bed to stop the light coming
in," she says.
"There's no one-size-fits-all. When you first go to sleep, you get more of
your deep sleep, but if you wake up at three o'clock, you're not exhausted
enough to crash out, which is why you'll find it harder to get back to
sleep.
"So the second half of the night is more problematic, when you go into REM
[rapid eye movement] sleep, where you get vivid dreams."
Studies show being exposed to natural light in the morning is good for you
and Ratcliffe recommends getting outside first thing rather than scrolling
on your phone.
But our British seasons could mean you run into problems if you leave the
curtains open.
"In winter, it wouldn't be a bad thing to let the natural light in, but it's
more difficult because it's dark when you wake up," she says. "You might
even feel tired earlier in the evening.
"Then, when you get to summer, you might naturally go to bed later as the
sun's out. If you leave your curtains open, you could be waking up too
early. But you can always try it, and if it feels right, carry on."
Can leaving the curtains open actually disturb our sleep?
If a good night's sleep feels like a distant memory from your 20s, there's a
reason for it.
"Melatonin levels decline as we get older, which can make it harder to fall
and stay asleep," says Taylor. "At the same time, the body clock can shift
earlier, so you might feel sleepier in the evening and wake earlier in the
morning.
"We also become more sensitive to disruption during the night and things
like stress, life changes, noise or light can have a bigger impact on sleep
than they did previously."
Blocking out anything which might disturb your sleep further is essential,
whether your phone lighting up, noisy neighbours or streetlamps, so it makes
sense for the bedroom to be in darkness.
"Noise pollution can be a problem if you leave your curtains open all night,
as artificial light, like street lights, can disrupt your melatonin," says
Ratcliffe.
Blocking out light when you go to bed will help you sleep more soundly
More tips for better sleep
Listening to bacon frying, humming like a bee and tensing your toes might
sound like weird ways to get to sleep, but they might just work for you.
Then there are the more conventional measures, like getting plenty of fresh
air and activity throughout the day and doing some relaxing bedtime
stretches.
"Being less active during the day can reduce sleep pressure, which is the
natural build-up of tiredness which helps us fall asleep, so when this is
reduced, it can affect our ability to nod off," says Taylor.
A good routine is as essential as a comfortable mattress, according to
Ratcliffe. "It's all to do with giving your brain the right message," she
says. "Dim the lights and get into a good bedtime routine. Get everything
out of your head: write a to-do list for tomorrow and clear out your
thoughts, or they'll be the things you think about when you wake up at 3am.
"Breathwork can be really good and think about your morning routine as well.
Sometimes you wake up feeling tired, but it's dehydration, so drink a glass
of water before you reach for the caffeine."
How much sleep do you need?
Sleep varies from person to person and, while some people need eight hours,
others can get by on less.
We've got more on how many hours sleep you need as you get older.
If you have any worries about your sleep, contact your GP.
Written by: Hannah Verdier
Hannah Verdier writes about fitness, health, relationships, podcasts, TV and
the joy of reinventing yourself at 50 and beyond. She's a graduate of
teenage music bible Smash Hits and has a side hustle as a fitness trainer
who shows people who hated PE at school how to love exercise.
Colin Howard, living in Southern England.
Interesting, how does light affect those who have never seen light? I am
aware there are light-sensative cells in other parts of our bodies besides
our eyes, maybe these are affected and can cause problems with sleep. I am
well aware, having lost most of my sight in my twenty third year and am only
able to see extremely bright light, how my circadiam rhythm nowadays is
affected by these matters, I normally have a blind on my bedroom window
which is permanently half-closed.
Some believe waking up to natural light helps you sleep better, but before
you pull up the blinds, hear what the experts have to say.
By Hannah Verdier | Published - 30 Mar 2026
Do you need total darkness to sleep or do you prefer to let the light flood
in
According to devotees of The Dutch Method, leaving your curtains open, your
bedroom floods with natural light works with your circadian rhythm, the
internal body clock which regulates your sleep cycle.
Followers find it makes them more alert in the morning, so they sleep better
at night. The NHS emphasises good sleep hygiene, but the right conditions
vary from person to person as your preferences are so individual.
What are the advantages of leaving your curtains open?
Sleep consultant and founder of The Sleep Works Maryanne Taylor explains The
Dutch Method is based on how light influences our sleep-wake cycle.
"When natural light enters the room in the morning, it helps stop melatonin
[the sleep hormone] and triggers a natural rise in cortisol, which is what
helps us feel alert and signals to our brain the day has begun," Taylor
says.
If you don't fancy setting your alarm, but want to wake up gently, letting
the light in is a gentle, gradual and calmer way to do it.
Daylight in the morning triggers a natural rise in cortisol
What are the drawbacks of drawing back those curtains?
Nicole Ratcliffe is a sleep educator at The Workplace Sleep Coach and she
falls into the curtains-shut camp. "I sleep in pitch black and even in the
summer I'll close the blinds an hour before bed to stop the light coming
in," she says.
"There's no one-size-fits-all. When you first go to sleep, you get more of
your deep sleep, but if you wake up at three o'clock, you're not exhausted
enough to crash out, which is why you'll find it harder to get back to
sleep.
"So the second half of the night is more problematic, when you go into REM
[rapid eye movement] sleep, where you get vivid dreams."
Studies show being exposed to natural light in the morning is good for you
and Ratcliffe recommends getting outside first thing rather than scrolling
on your phone.
But our British seasons could mean you run into problems if you leave the
curtains open.
"In winter, it wouldn't be a bad thing to let the natural light in, but it's
more difficult because it's dark when you wake up," she says. "You might
even feel tired earlier in the evening.
"Then, when you get to summer, you might naturally go to bed later as the
sun's out. If you leave your curtains open, you could be waking up too
early. But you can always try it, and if it feels right, carry on."
Can leaving the curtains open actually disturb our sleep?
If a good night's sleep feels like a distant memory from your 20s, there's a
reason for it.
"Melatonin levels decline as we get older, which can make it harder to fall
and stay asleep," says Taylor. "At the same time, the body clock can shift
earlier, so you might feel sleepier in the evening and wake earlier in the
morning.
"We also become more sensitive to disruption during the night and things
like stress, life changes, noise or light can have a bigger impact on sleep
than they did previously."
Blocking out anything which might disturb your sleep further is essential,
whether your phone lighting up, noisy neighbours or streetlamps, so it makes
sense for the bedroom to be in darkness.
"Noise pollution can be a problem if you leave your curtains open all night,
as artificial light, like street lights, can disrupt your melatonin," says
Ratcliffe.
Blocking out light when you go to bed will help you sleep more soundly
More tips for better sleep
Listening to bacon frying, humming like a bee and tensing your toes might
sound like weird ways to get to sleep, but they might just work for you.
Then there are the more conventional measures, like getting plenty of fresh
air and activity throughout the day and doing some relaxing bedtime
stretches.
"Being less active during the day can reduce sleep pressure, which is the
natural build-up of tiredness which helps us fall asleep, so when this is
reduced, it can affect our ability to nod off," says Taylor.
A good routine is as essential as a comfortable mattress, according to
Ratcliffe. "It's all to do with giving your brain the right message," she
says. "Dim the lights and get into a good bedtime routine. Get everything
out of your head: write a to-do list for tomorrow and clear out your
thoughts, or they'll be the things you think about when you wake up at 3am.
"Breathwork can be really good and think about your morning routine as well.
Sometimes you wake up feeling tired, but it's dehydration, so drink a glass
of water before you reach for the caffeine."
How much sleep do you need?
Sleep varies from person to person and, while some people need eight hours,
others can get by on less.
We've got more on how many hours sleep you need as you get older.
If you have any worries about your sleep, contact your GP.
Written by: Hannah Verdier
Hannah Verdier writes about fitness, health, relationships, podcasts, TV and
the joy of reinventing yourself at 50 and beyond. She's a graduate of
teenage music bible Smash Hits and has a side hustle as a fitness trainer
who shows people who hated PE at school how to love exercise.
Colin Howard, living in Southern England.
Stuart Jones
Apr 8, 2026, 5:21:56 AMApr 8
to avip...@googlegroups.com, AVIP list post
Greetings
I have the curtains open most of the year and we have the window open as well unless it is bitterly cold. Having mild asthma having a window slightly open and the curtains partly open gets air into the bedroom especially when you have Dogs in the house.
Sent from my iPhone
> On 8 Apr 2026, at 07:40, Colin Howard <colinho...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Greetings,
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AVIP" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to avipworld+...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/avipworld/001b01dcc722%249a1a90c0%240d01a8c0%40Colin1.
I have the curtains open most of the year and we have the window open as well unless it is bitterly cold. Having mild asthma having a window slightly open and the curtains partly open gets air into the bedroom especially when you have Dogs in the house.
Sent from my iPhone
> On 8 Apr 2026, at 07:40, Colin Howard <colinho...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Greetings,
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AVIP" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to avipworld+...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/avipworld/001b01dcc722%249a1a90c0%240d01a8c0%40Colin1.
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