Is it necessary to sleep in complete darkness for a good night's rest?
Light influences our emotions and can also affect our rest, as we explain in our new post. Keep reading!
Table of Contents
-
Problems caused by not sleeping in the dark
-
1. Disruption of the circadian rhythm
-
2. Insomnia
-
3. Depression and obesity
-
-
Advantages of sleeping in complete darkness
-
1. You fall asleep faster
-
2. Better rest
-
3. You protect your eyes
-
Is it better to sleep in complete darkness?
We often make the mistake of picking up our phone, tablet, or even turning on the television to fall asleep. Exposure to these devices at night is not recommended, as they activate our brain, making it harder to fall asleep later. Having the only light in our bedroom when we go to sleep be the glow of a screen can negatively affect our health and rest.
Sleeping near a screen has become just another sleep routine: watching a video, checking your social media, or replying to a WhatsApp message before bed is now a habit. What few people know is that this exposure to a screen, no matter how brief, before bedtime makes it harder to fall asleep. And it is very common to take your mobile phone to the bedroom at bedtime.
Try the Original Hybrid Mattress for 100 nights
Problems caused by not sleeping in the dark
Although it may not seem like it at first glance, prolonged exposure to screens and light sources in the hours before bedtime can cause long-term sleep problems. The first symptom is difficulty falling asleep even when you are very tired. Why is it important to sleep in complete darkness for a good night's rest? To avoid some of these problems caused by poor sleep.
1. Disruption of the circadian rhythm
Our body activates or deactivates depending on sunlight. When it is daytime or we are exposed to light, we wake up because our body interprets that it needs to activate. This is why artificial light at night disrupts our circadian rhythm and, consequently, our sleep. When it is nighttime or we are in the dark, the body prepares for rest and relaxes.
Exposure to screens and lights triggers an activation response in our brain, preventing the body from preparing for sleep. As a result, the body activates at the time of rest, prolonging the process of falling asleep longer than normal, harming our rest and health.
2. Insomnia
One of the main consequences of sleeping while exposed to artificial light sources or screens is insomnia. When the inability to fall asleep becomes persistent, it can lead to insomnia, even when there is no light exposure. To avoid this consequence, it is important to avoid screen exposure at least 2 hours before bedtime, maintain a good sleep routine, and sleep in complete darkness.
3. Depression and obesity
Other problems associated with or caused by the lack of sleep resulting from continuous screen exposure while we sleep are depression and obesity. By sleeping with the television on or being continuously exposed to light throughout the night, we send contradictory messages to our body and mind. On one hand, we tell it that it is time to rest, but at the same time, we provide a stimulus that activates our brain and body. This disruption to our mind can cause psychological distress, as we do not allow our body to rest properly.
When we cannot sleep at night, visits to the refrigerator or pantry tend to be more frequent. One of the consequences of insomnia is eating at odd hours during nighttime wakefulness. If these snacks continue over time, they can lead to obesity.
On the other hand, the continuous discomfort caused by a lack of sleep can have negative psychological effects and may even lead to depression because you cannot get adequate rest.
Advantages of sleeping in complete darkness
Although children who are afraid of the dark are often given a small light source at night, this light is usually very small and dim so as not to disrupt their rest. Now, sensor lights are used to avoid continuous exposure to a light source while sleeping. Sleeping in complete darkness has advantages for our daily rest.
1. You fall asleep faster
Being in complete darkness when we go to sleep helps us relax and promotes the secretion of melatonin, the sleep hormone. This allows our body to prepare better for rest and helps us fall asleep faster than if there were a light source.
2. Better rest
If we fall asleep faster, we will get more hours of sleep than if we spend hours tossing and turning in bed. By getting the appropriate amount of sleep, our body and mind are more rested, we are more productive, and we are happier. We also enjoy better sleep health.
3. You protect your eyes
Screens, pollution, dust... our eyes are constantly exposed to stimuli and particles that can cause damage. Giving your eyes a break is essential for good eye health.
At night, looking at a bright screen in a dark room tires the eyes more, because the contrast with the surroundings forces you to strain your eyes.
Therefore, when we go to sleep, we should let our eyes rest from unnecessary stimuli and exposure. With a restorative night's sleep, our eyes remain relaxed and healthy.
