‘Lived in an underground bunker for 10 days to study sleep, happiness and health’
On her quest to better understand how factors like when we eat and how much sunlight we get affect our ability to feel rested, happy and balanced, Lynne Peeples went 50 feet below ground for 10 days.
A Unique Experiment
Peeples, a science journalist and author of “The Inner Clock: Living in Sync With Our Circadian Rhythms,” found an Airbnb in Arkansas that was once a bunker during the Cold War. “This guy had purchased an old nuclear missile silo from the government and souped it up,” she said on an episode of the “Everyday Better with Leah Smart” podcast.
Avoiding Time-Related Cues
In the bunker, “there was no daylight,” she said. Peeples also got permission from the Airbnb host to cover all of the clocks on digital devices with black tape so she would have no idea what time it was down there. The lights in the bunker were dim and red. “We know that red is the wavelength of light that least affects our circadian rhythms,” she said.
Initial Results
For her book, Peeples wanted to explore what would happen to her internal clocks “if I cut myself off from those cues that they need to tell time.” During her stay, Peeples documented her experience via voice recordings with the plan to use the timestamps to see how closely she aligned with her typical schedule — like when she ate breakfast or when she went to sleep.
Disrupting Circadian Rhythm
For the first couple of days, it was miraculous because I could look later at timestamps from voice recordings that I made, and I was pretty accurate in living a 24-hour day,” she said. “Our clocks inside of us do keep pretty good time.” But about halfway into the experience, Peeples began to feel “really out of sorts” which she likened to major jet lag. At the “worst,” I was completely flipped. I was living my day when everybody else above ground was sleeping. So, I was close to 12 hours off,” she said. “I felt the effects of that.”
‘Getting adequate bright light’ is necessary for your circadian rhythm
When your circadian rhythm is out of sync, you can experience fatigue, insomnia, headaches or even depression, according to Cleveland Clinic. The results of Peeples’ experiment further prove what research has shown about how certain factors like exposure to sunlight can affect your circadian rhythm.
Practical Tips
To keep that calibration, it is about getting adequate bright light, especially in the morning,” Peeples said. “Within the first hour or two upon waking up, if you can get your eyes exposed to bright daylight, you’re in good shape. Go for a 15-minute walk in the morning, and be as close to a window as possible throughout the day. At night, dim the lights in your home as you near bedtime to prime your body for bed.
Disruptors of Circadian Rhythm
Peeples also provided a list of things that can disrupt your circadian rhythm, and affect more than just your sleep quality and quantity:
- Darkness during the day
- Too much light at night
- Eating at the wrong times of the day (snacking whenever)
- Changing the time on our clocks twice a year, when we “fall back” and “spring forward”
- Traveling across time zones
Conclusion
Peeples’ experiment demonstrates the importance of aligning our lifestyle with the 24-hour cycle to keep our bodies functioning optimally. By incorporating simple practices like getting adequate bright light exposure, eating at consistent times, and avoiding disruptors, we can maintain a healthy circadian rhythm and improve our overall well-being.
FAQs
Q: What is the 24-hour cycle?
A: The 24-hour cycle refers to the natural sleep-wake cycle that our bodies follow, regulated by an internal clock that responds to light and darkness.
Q: What are some factors that can disrupt my circadian rhythm?
A: Some common disruptors include darkness during the day, too much light at night, eating at the wrong times, changing the time on our clocks twice a year, and traveling across time zones.
Q: How can I keep my circadian rhythm in sync?
A: You can maintain a healthy circadian rhythm by getting adequate bright light exposure, eating at consistent times, and avoiding disruptors.
