Do you sleep worse during a full moon?
Every 4 to 5 weeks, there’s a moment when I find it difficult to fall asleep. Until a while ago, I had no idea why. Then I heard a friend say that she ‘once again couldn’t fall asleep during the full moon’. That’s when I started to recognise a pattern in myself. Every full moon night, I just can’t stop tossing and turning. I spoke about it with people around me and, surprisingly, many found this relatable. But what causes this?
What do we know about the moon?
The moon’s greatest influence is on the tides. It pulls water towards it, which determines ebb and flow. Whether the moon also affects other things, such as humans, has not been scientifically proven.
But what research has been done?
In 2013, a group of Swiss scientists conducted a study and accidentally discovered that the full moon may indeed have an effect on people. They were researching sleep patterns, but later realised they could compare the results with the lunar calendar. The study showed that during a full moon, people produce less melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel sleepy. It also found that people fall asleep about 5 minutes later.
A common statement is: “During a full moon, it’s also much brighter outside. That must have an effect.” However, this is not the case. In 2014, another study was conducted in which Swedish scientists had participants sleep in a room without windows. This meant outside light could not have any influence. The study found that during a full moon, people sleep on average 20 minutes less.
Conclusion
Do people actually sleep worse during a full moon? It’s difficult to say. There are also studies that contradict these findings. Looking at social media, many people are convinced that poorer sleep is linked to the full moon. Could it be psychological? If you want to be on the safe side, order our silk sleep mask, and you’ll undoubtedly sleep in complete darkness.