Good morning, Reader!

This morning I woke up naturally to the sun shining on my face — oh how I love that feeling! No alarm jarring me from my sleep in the dark. The time change always comes as a welcome relief this time of year, albeit it short lived.

Since moving out to the farm, our family has shifted more and more toward prioritizing getting enough sleep each night. We didn’t always have that rhythm. Benjamin and I used to joke that for more than ten years, at least one of us was always woken by a small child in the night. And for a while, I also had work that kept me up late, which only compounded the lack of rest.

But a few years ago we made decisions — career changes, lifestyle tweaks — so that every member of our family now regularly gets 8-9 hours of sleep each night. And I don’t consider that a luxury anymore; I consider it a necessity.

Here’s what I’ve learned, and why I believe this matters for you, Reader, (and your family) too:

Natural Light Matters

The human body was built for real light — morning sun, mid-day brightness, evening dimming. The WAPF writes: “Exposure to direct sunlight improves melatonin levels and shifts the hormone to function more in line with an early-to-bed and early-to-rise schedule.”

They also say: “Real light, like real food, is true medicine… People should strive every day to enjoy direct, unimpeded exposure to real sunlight.”

What this means in practice:

• Try to spend 10-15 minutes outside early in the day—just sunlight, fresh air, without screens.
• Avoid too much artificial blue light at night (screens, bright lamps) because it confuses your internal clock.
• Recognize that light isn’t just a bonus—it is a signal telling your body what time it is, and that affects sleep, digestion, mood.

Sleep is Non-Negotiable

If you’re feeding your family nutrient-dense foods yet still feel tired or off, something’s missing. For years, I ignored this. Now I don’t.

I recently listened to a webinar by a holistic nutritionist who said the first place she starts with every client’s health journey is sleep—because sleep is the foundation. She shared that when we don’t prioritize sleep, we hamper our immune system, our hormone regulation, our ability to heal and renew.

Here are a few practical shifts I made that helped:

• The goal became consistent bedtime and wake time, even on weekends (as much as possible, we still enjoy extra time as a family on Friday nights and relaxed Saturday morning routine).
• I treat sleep like part of our health plan—not something we’ll “catch up” on later.
• I made our bedroom dark, cool, and screen-free before bed.
• I stopped thinking sleep was passive — it’s active healing.

Why This Matters for Our Farm & Families

I talk a lot about soil, animals, & good food. But I believe the rhythms of our life matter just as much: rhythms of light, rest, presence. Because when we are fully nourished, we can serve others better — our children, our community, our land.

If you’re in a season of less sleep — nursing babies, demanding work, late nights — I want to say this: your body is strong. This is a season and you will get through. But also: give a hard look at the trade-offs you create. Are you loosing sleep over screen-time and scrolling? What you sacrifice today often echoes tomorrow.

You don’t need to wait until everything is “perfect” to prioritize better rest and light. Small shifts count. Over time they compound.

A few simple steps you can try this week:

• Go outside within 30 minutes of waking — even if it’s just stepping out the door. I did this today at 6:40 a.m., barefoot with a hot mug of tea, feeling the cold air and the first warm rays of sunlight kiss my face.
• Check your wake-up light: if the first morning light is dark, consider shifting your wake time or using a dawn simulator to ease into the light (I recently learned of these and plan to get one for all of the kids and I).
• One hour before bed: dim screens, dim lights. Make it a gentle wind-down.
• Commit to a sleep window (for example 10:00 pm–6:30 am) and protect it.
• Pray! Pray with your family and again when you close your eyes to sleep. It’s the best way I know to let go of the day and rest in gratitude and real peace.
• Notice how your mood, energy, hunger and clarity change when you’re getting more sun + rest.

I’m so encouraged by how our family feels now compared to a few years ago. The small change of waking with sunrise this morning reminded me how much even simple alignment with natural light and sleep can make a difference.

Here’s to more light, and rest.

Blessings,
Leah
Great Heritage Farm