The so-called “dark showering” – showering in the dark or in a very dimly lit bathroom, usually just before sleep. Social media users replace bright bathroom lights with candles or dim red light to try to create a calmer evening routine, writes “Parade”.
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Neuroscientist and sleep researcher Laura Bojarskaitė from the University of Oslo explains that the purpose of this habit is to reduce sensory stimulation and create an environment that helps the body transition from wakefulness to sleep state.
Why might it help to fall asleep?
Kendra Becker, a sleep medicine doctor at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California, says that a warm shower before bed can have a physiological effect. After leaving a warm shower, body temperature naturally begins to drop, and this change is one of the body’s signals associated with sleepiness.
Light is also important. Reducing bright, especially blue, light just before sleep helps the body prepare for rest and does not interfere with natural melatonin production. Therefore, warm water, dimmed lighting, and fewer environmental stimuli can help relax more easily before sleep.
L. Bojarskaitė emphasizes that darkness itself does not have special powers. However, such an evening ritual can be beneficial because it reduces stimulation, the effect of bright light, and encourages a person to slow down before going to bed.
Tested for two weeks
Alexa Mellardo decided to try this method popular on social media herself. For two weeks, every evening she showered in a warm bath lit only by a candle.
According to the woman, she first noticed that it became easier to relax in the evening. Changes were also shown by her sleep monitoring device – during the experiment, sleep scores ranged from 84 points, indicating good sleep, to 90 points, rated as an excellent result.
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She also noticed that she woke up less often at night. Before the experiment, the woman usually woke up two or three times, but after starting to shower in dim light, some nights she woke only once or did not wake at all. This is one person’s experience, not the result of a scientific study.
The new habit also prompted other changes in the evening routine – the author turned off the computer earlier, watched less TV, read more, and did light stretching exercises before sleep.
Not recommended to shower in complete darkness
Although this method can help relax, specialists do not recommend turning off the light completely in the shower. Slippery surfaces and poor visibility increase the risk of slipping and falling.
Older people and those with vision or balance disorders should be especially careful. It is safer to leave dim lighting so that the environment in the bathroom can be clearly seen.
Specialists also point out that very hot water can dilate blood vessels and cause sudden dizziness in some people.
