Sleeping with an eye mask on looks very filmy, because we generally see people do that in films to have a good night’s sleep, but is an eye mask for sleeping actually effective?
Well, we humans have an internal clock that helps to regulate our circadian rhythms all the time. Light is an important factor that regulates our circadian rhythms, especially when we sleep and awake. But how does light affect humans’ sleeping patterns? This content is going to talk about all these points, so stay with this content to know more …..
Is light related to sleep?
According to researchers, our circadian system has evolved way before artificial lights. That’s why just a few watts of light can trick our brain into believing that it is daytime at any time of night. You might not realise, but watching a movie or working on a computer screen at night is 10 times brighter than standing in a well-lit parking lot.
At night light exposure generally affects the natural processes that help to prepare the human mind and body for sleep. Scientifically, your pineal gland produces special hormones called melatonin in response to darkness. This hormone is very important for the circadian regulation of sleep.
Does light actually affect us at night during sleep time?
Lights are one of the integral parts of our lives, but they actually affect our sleep cycle at night. Being exposed to light at night can reduce the melatonin production in your body, and changes the sleeping process.
Now you are thinking some people prefer to sleep with night lights. Well, night lights are not that powerful and always come in dark shades. Adults who use night lights have shallower sleep and more frequent arousals than others. Even lights outside your room, such as street lamps can make your sleep cycle poor.
However, the impact of light not only just limits your sleep cycle, but it is also associated with an increased risk of developing a variety of physical problems, such as – depressive symptoms, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, insomnia and many other unwanted diseases. According to researchers, light exposure can misalign the circadian rhythms. For instance, it is dark during the day and light at night. This is one of the reasons why scientists think shift work increases the risk of major health issues.
Read this Blog: 8 Ways To Be Healthy, Happy And Wealthy – Life Hack
“Sleeping masks are helpful” – is it genuinely true?
According to researchers, in a few experiments done with young adults and middle-aged people to see if wearing an eye mask while sleeping actually helps to improve the sleep cycle or not. Well, according to research, sleeping masks actually help to sleep peacefully.
The science behind sleeping masks is – they are mainly designed to block the light (it crucially regulates our sleep cycle). Then our body releases melatonin to regulate sleep-wake patterns, with better melatonin releases we have a deep sleep cycle. In the dark, our body releases more melatonin whereas in the presence of light, our body produces less melatonin which can disrupt our sleep cycle.
Wearing a sleep mask can create a darker impression which relaxes your mind and promotes better sleep. Sleeping masks mainly block the lights, which creates a significant impact on sleep quality. According to researchers, people who use a sleep mask at night have improved sleep quality rather to people who work night shifts and travel frequently across time zones. Wearing a good eye mask for sleeping gives a signal to our brain to pause and relax, and makes us feel more comfortable and calmer during the night. The feeling of darkness and calm provides us with a meditative state, which leads to quicker relaxation and deeper sleep.
The role of sleep in learning and alertness
Now you are thinking about how it is actually helpful in learning and alertness, well at first you need to understand the connection between sleep and cognitive function. Sleep provides relaxation to our mind which helps with memory consolidation, learning and maintaining overall brain health. Although there are different stages of sleep each of them plays a role in cognitive processes.
If light disrupts any of these sleep stages, that can impact cognitive functions. Wearing an eye cover for sleep can help block lights, promoting uninterrupted sleep and enabling the brain to complete these stages efficiently.
So yes, good quality sleep actually helps in learning and consolidation. It initiates your brain processes while organizing the information you have learned throughout the day and helps you to recall the information when you need that. Lack of sleep can have the opposite effects, disrupt cognitive abilities, and loss focus, create problems in decision-making.
Sleeping with a night eye cover also has positive effects on alertness. As it blocks the light and helps you sleep better, it also helps to improve mood and give your brain proper rest to restore your energy to focus on your daily work.
Final thoughts
Wearing a sleeping mask at night may not directly improve learning or alertness, but it helps you get effective deep sleep, which relaxes your brain and enhances its functionality. It directly boosts sleep quality, and good sleep helps memory growth while boosting overall brain function. So, if light disrupts your sleep cycle, it is better to buy a good eye mask for sleeping, to improve your cognitive performance and overall well-being.
So, if you’re struggling with sleep disturbances caused by light, investing in a good eye mask for sleeping can make a significant difference in your daily performance and overall well-being. Try it for yourself, and experience the benefits of better sleep today with Curious Kasturi!
