Why 'showering in the dark' could be the secret to better sleep. “Ritual for the Nervous System”
In recent months, the “shower in the dark” trend has become popular on social media as more and more people try it out and realize that it's actually quite powerful.
Showering in the dark, the secret of a better sleep PHOTO: The truth (archive)
What is a shower in the dark?
Showering in the dark is exactly what it sounds like: showering with the lights off so the lighting is dim instead of bright. You still wash as usual, but the goal goes far beyond hygiene, writes Real Simple magazine.
“Unlike the morning shower, which is usually bright, energizing and focused on cleansing and awakening the body, showering in the dark is a ritual for the nervous system,” explains Nidhi Pandya, NAMA Certified Advanced Ayurvedic Practitioner and author of the bestseller Your Body Already Knows. “By dimming or turning off the lights, you create a sensory cocoon that signals the body to relax.”
She explains that the absence of bright light helps to “Adjusting” the body's response to stress, which in turn supports the natural circadian transition from day to night. In this sense, it becomes a kind of threshold moment, washing the day not just from the skin, but from the mind and senses.
To try this trend, dim your bathroom lights to a level that's soothing but still allows you to see and move around safely in the shower.
5 important benefits of showering in the dark
Our mind and body benefit every time we slow down and focus on sensations. That's why we meditate, write in our journals, lie on the grass and listen to music with our eyes closed. It just makes us feel good. Showering in the dark has the same effect. Here are some of its main benefits:
Reduces stress
Stress is omnipresent, but a shower in the dark could have the potential to calm worrisome thoughts and a restless mind. “Showering in the dark reduces visual stimulation, which can help the nervous system calm down,” explains Stefanie Mazer, Psy.D, a psychologist based in Palm Beach, Florida. “Some people find it calms their agitated thoughts after a long or stressful day and can calm the nervous system.”
Improves sleep
Whether you have trouble falling asleep or simply need a deeper sleep, showering in the dark can help. Michael J. Breus, PhD, known worldwide as “The Sleep Doctor,” says: “Warm showers taken about 90 minutes before bedtime have been shown to help artificially raise body temperature, followed by a sudden drop, which favors melatonin production.” A shower in the dark further enhances this benefit by creating a less stimulating environment.
It resets your mood
Have you ever had the worst day of your life? We've all been through it. “Experience can transform a negative state of mind into a calmer one. Even a short shower in the dark can make people feel mentally refreshed,” says Dr. Mazer.
Improves attention
When the lights are dim, your mind has fewer distractions. You begin to notice the sound of the water, the sensation on your skin, the rhythm of your breathing. All this puts you in a meditative state (without the need for any app).
Promotes privacy
At a time when most people barely have time for rest, let alone privacy, Pandya says showering in the dark has the power to awaken sensuality. “The dim light, warm water and heightened sensory awareness create a delicate, inherently romantic atmosphere,” she says.
A brief history of showering in the dark
Of course, showering in the dark isn't necessarily new. In many cultures, turning off the lights while relaxing in the tub or rinsing off in the shower has been an essential component of many personal care regimens.
“In India, the evening bath has long held a special place. People often bathed at dusk, in the dim light of lamps. This was not only practical, but also deeply intentional, a way to cleanse the energetic residue of the day and prepare for the night, rest or intimacy.”Pandya tells us.
And in Japan, night bathing in dimly lit wooden baths has long been a cherished ritual. Pandya says that lanterns or candles illuminated the steamy rooms, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere that soothed the senses and invited the body into a state of relaxation. “Similarly, in ancient Greece and Rome, public baths often had dimly lit rooms where people washed by the light of oil lamps, not only to cleanse themselves, but also to relax, restore, and transition.”
