By Ryan Costa
Sleeping properly is a science. There’s a lot that goes into getting the best sleep, and even if you watch hours of TV or spend hours on your phone, you can still achieve a quality sleep by paying attention to one simple thing. Turn off the lights!
Why should I sleep with the lights off?
Keeping the phone or TV off about an hour before bed is most beneficial for your brain’s recovery process. The same is true for sleeping with the lights off. The human body is sensitive to any form of stimuli regardless if one is sleeping or awake. This means that the body reacts to light even when the eyes are closed. Our bodies go through cycles that are regulated by light. When the sun rises your body naturally rises with it. When the sun sets our bodies natural reaction is to rest with it and the hormone melatonin is released to help you get to sleep (Check our article on Melatonin here!). The hormonal consequences of light can take a major toll on your body as melatonin is lessened, and makes getting to sleep much harder. MIT has even connected sleeping with the lights on with a greater increase in cancer due to the weakened state the body is placed in with the sleep recovery process being interrupted by light. Harvard Health has also found a connection to heart problems.
How can I prevent light from being a negative factor?
To prevent light from penetrating your curtains or windows, look into light-blocking curtains or a personal sleep mask that blocks all light. If you have a desk light, try one that has multiple light mode settings!
It may seem silly to consider something as simple as a light switch so deeply, but there’s an untold amount of possibilities each of our lives can go. So why not try and make this one the best version it can be? Sleeping properly and optimizing your health and wellness are the foundations to living a successful life and feeling fulfilled. The simple steps are often the most impactful and a having a good nights rest is one of the best ways to take care of yourself!
