{"id":32412,"date":"2024-05-20T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-20T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=32412"},"modified":"2024-05-20T14:54:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T14:54:25","slug":"benefits-of-sleeping-in-complete-darkness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/benefits-of-sleeping-in-complete-darkness\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Embrace Sleeping in Complete Darkness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In many cultures, sleeping in darkness is associated with things that go bump in the night. Add in\u00a0scary movies<\/a>, ghost stories, and our predisposition to fear the unknown, and it\u2019s no mystery why we clutch our security blankets at night.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, every person\u2019s first experience with sleep is in the womb\u2014enveloped in warmth and total darkness. Darkness is truly nature\u2019s gift for getting a good night\u2019s rest. The trick is rerouting your mindset and making small changes to receive it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benefits of sleeping in complete darkness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The benefits of embracing total darkness while sleeping are vast and well-documented. According to the National Institutes of Health<\/a>, even a sliver of light in your bedroom can disrupt your circadian rhythm<\/a>, your body\u2019s internal clock, that (silently) tells your body when to rest and when to rise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also affects your body\u2019s ability to produce melatonin<\/a>, the hormone responsible for good sleep hygiene<\/a>, boosting your mood and immune system, improving brain and eye health, and decreasing your risk of diabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exposure to light while sleeping can \u201clead to an increased nighttime heart rate<\/a> and decreased heart rate variability, while sleeping in a dark environment has been linked to better metabolic health as it reduces next-morning insulin resistance,\u201d says Biquan Luo<\/a>, MD, a sleep expert with Lumos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, after a good night’s sleep, you feel and look amazing (begone, puffy under-eye circles<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You already know that turning off our electrical devices is an essential part of a healthy evening routine, but it\u2019s not just about doom-scrolling and shopping in your sleep; it\u2019s the blue light<\/a> they emit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBedrooms should be ‘cave-like’ in terms of darkness so that our melatonin can be at its peak. Ideally, if you hold your hand out at arms’ length, you should not be able to see your fingers wiggling,\u201d says naturopathic doctor Catherine Darley, founder of the Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine<\/a> in Seattle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to embrace the benefits of sleeping in a dark room<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Learning to sleep in a dark room doesn\u2019t involve black magic, but it may take some getting used to. Here are some ways to create an environment that feels safe and not scary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n