Does the full moon bother sleep?

Insomnia and sleep disorders during a full moon are a widespread phenomenon. But what's really behind the myth of "moon sensitivity," and do the phases of the moon actually influence our sleep?

Table of contents

1. Sleepless on a full moon
2. The phases of the moon
3. How the full moon disturbs sleep
   1. Falling asleep & sleep rhythm
   2. Sleep duration
   3. Sleep quality
4. Moon sensitivity – myth or truth?

1. Sleepless on a full moon

Many people complain, especially in the days surrounding the famous full moon, about Sleep problems. You have a harder time falling asleep, wake up more often at night than usual or feel barely rested the next morning. The conditions under which we truly sleep well naturally depend on numerous factors and our individual needs. Yet, for many people, one thing is clear: the phases of the moon have a direct influence on sleep!

Whether the lunar cycle really influences human sleep is scientifically controversial. Some studies do show that a full moon can affect sleep and reduce sleep quality, and the latest findings from sleep research also point to an existing connection between Sleep disorders and moon phases. But how could the moon actually influence sleep?

2. The phases of the moon

Month after month, the moon, as we see it in the night sky, goes through various lunar phases. One cycle lasts 29.53 days and encompasses the transition from the famous full moon to the so-called new moon and back to the full moon. As the moon phases progress, the position and brightness of the moonlight gradually increase, reaching their peak at the full moon, and then decreasing again. Some researchers suspect that human sleep is synchronized with these lunar phases for evolutionary reasons—because in a brightly lit night, our ancestors could naturally remain active for longer than in complete darkness.

3. How the full moon disturbs sleep

Late falling asleep & altered sleep-wake rhythm

Difficulty falling asleep is one of the most common sleep disorders And especially around a full moon, many people simply struggle to fall asleep. A scientific study observed that in the days leading up to a full moon, test subjects were only able to fall asleep relatively late, and the time it took them to fall asleep increased by a total of 30 to 80 minutes. One possible reason for this could be the special lighting conditions, as during a full moon, the celestial body reflects a particularly large amount of sunlight and shines brighter than on other nights.

Our internal clock, which Sleep behavior significantly influenced, follows the natural day-night rhythm and is oriented towards daylight. Thus, as it gets darker in the evening, our body begins to produce more sleep hormones such as Melatonin to produce and slowly prepare us for sleep. This suggests that the particularly bright moonlight inhibits hormone production, lowers melatonin levels in the blood, and causes us to feel tired and fall asleep later in the evening. Further studies have indeed shown lower melatonin levels in the subjects' bodies when a full moon was approaching.

Shorter sleep duration

In addition to falling asleep itself, the nightly Sleep duration are influenced by the phases of the moon.In various studies, the sleep volume of the test group was reduced by an average of 20 to 30 minutes per night, especially in the last three to five nights before the full moon. This could also be due to a lack of Melatonin and the disruption of our natural sleep-wake rhythm, because this ultimately determines how deeply we sleep and when we wake up again in the morning.

Reduced sleep quality

On full moons, many people not only complain about problems falling asleep or staying asleep, but also report generally restless sleep, Nightmares and the classic “feeling like a wreck” the next day. By measuring brain activity during sleep, researchers were able to see that the Sleep structure In the days before the full moon, the sleep quality changed slightly, and the so-called delta activity, which is characteristic of deep sleep, was reduced by an average of 30%. As a result, sleepers spent less time in deep sleep and more time in REM sleep. However, deep sleep is particularly important for the regeneration and energy balance of our body and brain. The fact that sleep quality also decreases on full moon nights, that we sleep more restlessly and wake up less refreshed, therefore also seems to be no mere myth.

4. Sensitivity to the moon – Myth or truth?

The question of whether lunar cycles are a cause of widespread sleep disturbances and insomnia around the infamous full moon nights cannot be clearly answered, at least from a scientific perspective, based on current research. And even though this is a widespread phenomenon, and surveys show that almost a third of people have trouble sleeping around the full moon, the study results are not considered conclusive evidence of the famous "moon sensitivity."

By the way: Women are known for their easily disturbed sleep (more on this in this article). Nevertheless, men seem to suffer more from the mysterious effects of the full moon. Male study participants took comparatively longer to fall asleep and their sleep duration also decreased more than that of the female participants.

But if we're honest, it ultimately doesn't matter whether the moonlight or (at least partly) our psyche is responsible for restless sleep on full moon nights. Because whether we sleep well unfortunately doesn't always depend on factors we can influence. With a good Sleep hygiene But you create the right conditions for a good night and if the moon should keep you awake, our practical Tips for falling asleep to find restful sleep.

5. Conclusion

• Some studies show that around the night of a full moon, people fall asleep later, sleep for shorter periods of time, and spend less time in deep sleep.

• Bright moonlight is considered a possible cause of sleep disorders because it can inhibit melatonin production and disrupt sleep patterns.

Best wishes and see you soon!