How To Make Bedroom Pitch Black
Afraid of the dark? It's time to overcome that fear. One of the secrets to a better night's sleep is a pitch-black setting. Here's why, plus a guide to making your bedroom a nighttime light-free zone.
How does darkness affect sleep?
Darkness is the primary cue that tells our bodies it's time to slumber. Chief controller? The internal clock tucked in our hypothalmus that keeps us on a 24-hour wake/sleep schedule. Light triggers all kinds of internal chemical events, including the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. According to the National Sleep Foundation, "As evening approaches and the light in our environment dwindles, the hormone melatonin begins to rise and body temperature falls–both of which help us to become less alert and more likely to welcome sleep. With the help of morning light, melatonin levels are low, body temperature begins to rise, and other chemical shifts, such as an uptick in the activating hormone cortisol, occur to help us feel alert and ready for the day."
Does artificial light count?
Our internal clocks aren't sensitive only to the rising and setting of the sun. Research shows that artificial light has a major impact on circadian rhythm–our body's natural 24-hour wake/sleep cycle–and the production of sleep hormones. The thinking part of our brain that differentiates fake light from natural light isn't able to pass that tip along to the hypothalamus. Scientists at Tulane University studied melatonin production and found that sleeping in rooms with even dim lights caused melatonin levels to drop, affecting not only the ability to fall asleep but also to stay asleep. "In total darkness," they note, "even if you can't sleep, your melatonin levels will increase normally."
A study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism concludes that exposure to room light before bedtime "exerts a profound suppressive effect on melatonin levels and shortens the body's internal representation of night duration. Hence, chronically exposing oneself to electrical lighting in the late evening disrupts melatonin signaling and could therefore potentially impact sleep, thermoregulation, blood pressure, and glucose homeostasis." Convinced?
How to achieve total darkness in the bedroom:
The first step is to survey your room for interior and exterior sources of artificial and natural light. You may be surprised. Keep a list and take action. Here are some ideas.
1. Dim the lights before bedtime.
Consider using low-wattage incandescent lamps at your bedside (and turn off overhead lights as you get ready for bed). The key is to wind down with lighting at a lower level than normal, signaling to your body that darkness is setting in.
2. Eliminate electronics.
Researchers have found that the circadian rhythm is especially sensitive to light with short wavelengths, in particular the blue light given off by electronics, such as computers and cell phones, and also by energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs. "Blue light preferentially alerts the brain, suppresses the melatonin, and shifts your body clock all at the same time. Your brain is more alert now and thinks it's daytime because we have evolved to only see bright light during the day," says Harvard sleep researcher Steven Lockely (via theChicago Tribune).
How To Make Bedroom Pitch Black
Source: https://www.remodelista.com/posts/household-intelligence-how-to-achieve-total-darkness-in-the-bedroom-for-a-better-nights-sleep/
