Wearing an overnight sleep mask?

On the benefits of wearing a sleep mask in bed

Jan. 24, 2020 - Willem L. Middelkoop

Over the past few weeks I have been experimenting with wearing a sleep mask in bed, blocking all light. Our bodies produce the sleep hormone, melatonin, in darkness. Living in an environment awash in artificial light, is therefore exactly the sort of thing that disrupts one's circadian rhythm. Can a simple mask help?

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The Mindfold sleep mask: total darkness with your eyes open

Average heart rate variability (HRV) during the same night shows a steady increase (and recovery)

The soft foam conforms to your face for maximum comfort and darkness

Heart rate graph shows a near flat line, very close to my minimum rate (collected with Biostrap)

The sleep mask has open spaces covering your eyes, allowing your eyes to open freely (while maintaining darkness): this is a mayor difference with many other masks that sit right on your eye lids

The mask is flexible, enabling a comfortable fit

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Articles (148)

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