The so-called “dark showering” is said by its fans to help the body relax, reduce stress, and get ready for sleep.
Can a simple shower in the dark lead to better sleep? There's a trend going viral on social media called “dark showering”, which means taking a shower with the lights off or very dimmed. Fans of this trend claim that the combination of darkness and warm water helps the body slow down, relax, and get ready for a good night's sleep. To mark World Sleep Day, experts took a closer look to see if there's any real science behind this viral ritual.
According to experts at Hello magazine, reducing light in the evening can really help your body get ready for sleep. Light is one of the main signals that control our sleep cycle. “When evening light is softer and more dim, the brain gets the signal that it's time to slow down and prepare for sleep,” explains Dr. Anita Raja. Darkness also supports the production of melatonin, a hormone crucial for quality sleep.
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A warm shower itself can also help. “Lowering your body temperature is part of the natural process of falling asleep, and a warm shower can support this process,” experts explain. The ideal timing is to shower about one to two hours before bed so your body has time to cool down and get ready for sleep.
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However, experts caution that it's not a magical trick for instant sleep. “The idea that there's one simple hack to instantly put you to sleep usually doesn't work,” says Dr. Zoe Schaedel. A shower in the dark is more like a pleasant evening ritual that, along with other habits like limiting screen time or using dim lighting, helps your body gradually unwind before bed.
