A good night's sleep is critical for our daily functions, including our mood and memory retention, as well as our immune system and heart health. However, scientific evidence suggests that lunar cycles, particularly the full moon, can affect sleep quality.
How Moon Phases Are Affecting Your Sleep
The lunar cycle impacts nature, affecting everything from tree growth to animal activity, among other things. However, the effect of moon phases on humans has been a source of debate among researchers.
Recent research has revealed the potential negative impact of lunar cycles on human sleep, with the full moon being the most disruptive.
During a full moon, participants took longer to fall asleep, slept for a shorter duration, and had poorer sleep quality, according to the study.
Another study found that during a full moon, total sleep time decreased while arousals and awakenings increased. However, this study contradicted previous research by discovering that participants took longer to reach REM sleep during the new moon.
Lastly, researchers analyzed sleep patterns in three indigenous Argentinian communities and 464 American college students living in a major city in the most comprehensive study.
The findings were consistent across all groups, indicating that people fell asleep later and slept for a shorter duration during the week preceding the full moon, regardless of location or artificial light exposure.
Pin-Pointing Other Factors
Experts have different theories about why the moon phases, especially the full moon, disrupt our sleep. According to one theory, light is important in regulating our sleep-wake cycle, and our bodies are susceptible to it.
The brightness of a full moon can disrupt our circadian rhythm, which is the system in our bodies that regulates our sleep/wake cycle. However, the moon's light is only 7% as bright as the sun's, so it only tells part of the story.
Another explanation for why the moon affects sleep is due to Earth's electromagnetism. Our planet has an electromagnetic field with a magnetotail tail.
During the full moon phase, the moon passes through the magnetotail and becomes negatively charged as it orbits the Earth. This negative charge affects the planet's electromagnetic field, and studies show that magnetic fields can influence humans at a low level.
Here's What You Can Do
So, how can we get a better night's sleep during the full moon? Here are some pointers shared by CNET:
- Use blackout curtains to keep the moon's light from shining through your window at night and any other ambient light that may interfere with your sleep.
- To help regulate your circadian rhythm, avoid blue light before bed. Blue light emitted by electronic devices such as phones and laptops can interfere with our body's production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleepiness and disrupts sleep quality.
- Maintain a consistent bedtime routine. Because lunar cycles can disrupt our sleep, practicing good sleep hygiene is critical to keep our sleep-wake cycle on track. Going to bed at the same time every night trains your body to begin winding down naturally near bedtime.
- Make your sleeping environment more comfortable with a mattress that fits your sleeper and body type. You should also keep your room comfortable for sleeping and turn off all electronics.
- Coffee should be consumed early enough in the day. The lunar cycles alone are enough to make falling asleep more difficult. Caffeine should be avoided eight hours before going to bed.
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