How Moon Phases Affect Your Sleep

The Moon influences life on Earth. Its phases regulate tides, can affect animal behavior, and even impact a person’s emotional state. But how is this celestial body connected to our sleep? Let’s explore on Joy-pup how different lunar phases can affect sleep quality and how to properly adapt to each period.

How Lunar Phases Affect Sleep Quality

Have you ever experienced insomnia for no apparent reason? It might be that a waxing Moon is shining in the sky at that time. And during periods when you fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly through the night, the Moon is likely waning.

Lunar cycles influence nature by regulating water movement in the oceans. Since the human body is largely composed of water, it’s no surprise that it reacts to changes in lunar phases. Additionally, the Moon’s brightness varies in different periods, affecting our biological rhythm. For example, the light of a Full Moon can interfere with falling asleep, while the darkness of a New Moon, on the contrary, promotes deep rest.

Healthy sleep is essential for body recovery, emotional balance, and immune system strengthening. However, the Moon can either help us fall asleep or disrupt our full rest.

• During the waxing Moon and Full Moon phases, restless sleep, difficulty falling asleep, and increased brain activity are often observed.
• When the Moon wanes or disappears from the night sky entirely, the body relaxes more easily, leading to a calmer and deeper sleep.

Let’s take a closer look at how each phase affects sleep.

Sleep During a New Moon

What happens? This is a time of renewal, reflection, and reset. The Moon is barely visible in this phase.

How it affects sleep. Darkness promotes the natural production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, making it easier to fall asleep.

What helps:

• Dedicate more time to rest, allowing the body to recover.
• Establish a bedtime ritual: engage in meditation or reading.

Sleep During a Waxing Moon

What happens? Energy gradually increases, bringing a desire to take action and achieve goals.

How it affects sleep. The brain becomes more active, potentially causing anxiety and difficulty falling asleep.

What helps:

• Regular physical activity during the day will reduce arousal before bedtime.
• Try to limit stress and avoid overloading yourself with excessive information before sleep.

Sleep During a Full Moon

What happens? This is the peak of energy, a period of strong emotions, realizations, and high activity.

How it affects sleep. Studies show that during a Full Moon, people take longer to fall asleep, and their sleep becomes less deep.

What helps:

• Avoid bright light before bed and use blackout curtains.
• Limit caffeine and heavy meals in the evening.

Sleep During a Waning Moon

What happens? The phase of relaxation, completion of tasks, and reflection begins.

How it affects sleep. The body adapts more easily to rest, and sleep quality improves.

What helps:

• Allow yourself more rest and recovery practices.
• Use relaxation techniques, drink warm herbal teas, and do light physical exercises before bed.