Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLunar CyclesScienceHealthSleep TipsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Lunar Cycles
Science
Health
Sleep Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
You toss and turn, unable tofall asleepand wondering why. Then you peek behind your curtain and see a full moon shining bright. It’s a common experience that might leave you wondering if a full moon actually does affect sleep.
Although it seems like an old wives’ tale, research shows that the moon phases can impact a person’s sleep.
This article provides information about the lunar cycle and how knowing the date of the next full moon could help you get more sleep.
michaelgwilson / Getty Images
The opposite of a full moon is a new moon. During this stage, the sunlight reflects off the side of the moon that we cannot see from earth. From our vantage point, it looks like there is no moon on those nights.
The Science
Anecdotally, nearly everyone has experienceddisrupted sleepduring a full moon or knows someone who has. Surprisingly, science backs this phenomenon up, showing that a full moon does cause people to sleep less.
Here’s what researchers have found:
However, research shows that people sleep more poorly during a full moon, even when they’re in a dark room, so the impact of a full moon goes beyond just light exposure.A full moon can affect the earth’s magnetic field or gravitational pull, but the connections between these factors and sleep have not been explored.
Lunar Cycles and Health
While research on the lunar cycle and sleep has improved, there’s a need to better understand how the moon phases affect other areas of health. A small study reported thatmenstrual cyclesmight align with the moon, mainly when exposure to artificial light was limited.
Some research has indicated that episodes ofmental health illnessand of violence may increase during the full moon. Still, researchers haven’t been able to document the often-touted theory that more women givebirthon nights with a full moon.
Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep
No matter the lunar cycle, focusing on goodsleep hygienecan help you get a better night’s sleep. Incorporate these tips for a healthier bedtime routine:
Don’t force yourself to stay in bed if you’re tossing and turning. Instead, relax quietly in another area of your home until you feel sleepy.
Summary
The idea that a full moon can disrupt sleep isn’t just an old wives’ tale. Researchers have found that people take longer to fall asleep and sleep less when a full moon is out, even in a dark room. Despite the lunar cycle, practicing good sleep hygiene, like having a consistent bedtime routine, can help you get better sleep.
A Word From Verywell
Whether you have black-out curtains or are sleeping beneath the stars, a full moon can affect your ability to fall asleep. Luckily, the full moon only comes once every 29.5 days, so if you didn’t sleep well last night, you might have better luck in the coming days.
Frequently Asked QuestionsA full moon can affect tides, the earth’s magnetic field, sleep, and possibly other areas of human health. Tides are higher during full moons, and people get less sleep on nights with full moons. Scientists are still working to understand the impact of a full moon fully.A full moon occurs every 29.5 days. It lasts just one night, but the moon can be very bright and prominent in the days leading up to and following the full moon.
A full moon can affect tides, the earth’s magnetic field, sleep, and possibly other areas of human health. Tides are higher during full moons, and people get less sleep on nights with full moons. Scientists are still working to understand the impact of a full moon fully.
A full moon occurs every 29.5 days. It lasts just one night, but the moon can be very bright and prominent in the days leading up to and following the full moon.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NASA.Earth’s moon.Casiraghi L, Spiousas I, Dunster GP, et al.Moonstruck sleep: Synchronization of human sleep with the moon cycle under field conditions.Sci Adv. 2021;7(5):eabe0465. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe0465Shoes, Sarah.Do moon phases affect your sleep?Sleep Foundation.Cajochen C, Altanay-Ekici S, Münch M, Frey S, Knoblauch V, Wirz-Justice A.Evidence that the lunar cycle influences human sleep.Curr Biol. 2013;23(15):1485-1488. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.06.029Helfrich-Förster C, Monecke S, Spiousas I, Hovestadt T, Mitesser O, Wehr TA.Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the moon.Sci Adv. 2021;7(5):eabe1358. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1358BBC.The mood-altering powers of the moon.National Sleep Foundation.Healthy sleep tips.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NASA.Earth’s moon.Casiraghi L, Spiousas I, Dunster GP, et al.Moonstruck sleep: Synchronization of human sleep with the moon cycle under field conditions.Sci Adv. 2021;7(5):eabe0465. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe0465Shoes, Sarah.Do moon phases affect your sleep?Sleep Foundation.Cajochen C, Altanay-Ekici S, Münch M, Frey S, Knoblauch V, Wirz-Justice A.Evidence that the lunar cycle influences human sleep.Curr Biol. 2013;23(15):1485-1488. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.06.029Helfrich-Förster C, Monecke S, Spiousas I, Hovestadt T, Mitesser O, Wehr TA.Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the moon.Sci Adv. 2021;7(5):eabe1358. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1358BBC.The mood-altering powers of the moon.National Sleep Foundation.Healthy sleep tips.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
NASA.Earth’s moon.Casiraghi L, Spiousas I, Dunster GP, et al.Moonstruck sleep: Synchronization of human sleep with the moon cycle under field conditions.Sci Adv. 2021;7(5):eabe0465. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe0465Shoes, Sarah.Do moon phases affect your sleep?Sleep Foundation.Cajochen C, Altanay-Ekici S, Münch M, Frey S, Knoblauch V, Wirz-Justice A.Evidence that the lunar cycle influences human sleep.Curr Biol. 2013;23(15):1485-1488. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.06.029Helfrich-Förster C, Monecke S, Spiousas I, Hovestadt T, Mitesser O, Wehr TA.Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the moon.Sci Adv. 2021;7(5):eabe1358. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1358BBC.The mood-altering powers of the moon.National Sleep Foundation.Healthy sleep tips.
NASA.Earth’s moon.
Casiraghi L, Spiousas I, Dunster GP, et al.Moonstruck sleep: Synchronization of human sleep with the moon cycle under field conditions.Sci Adv. 2021;7(5):eabe0465. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe0465
Shoes, Sarah.Do moon phases affect your sleep?Sleep Foundation.
Cajochen C, Altanay-Ekici S, Münch M, Frey S, Knoblauch V, Wirz-Justice A.Evidence that the lunar cycle influences human sleep.Curr Biol. 2013;23(15):1485-1488. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.06.029
Helfrich-Förster C, Monecke S, Spiousas I, Hovestadt T, Mitesser O, Wehr TA.Women temporarily synchronize their menstrual cycles with the luminance and gravimetric cycles of the moon.Sci Adv. 2021;7(5):eabe1358. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe1358
BBC.The mood-altering powers of the moon.
National Sleep Foundation.Healthy sleep tips.
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