Snow Moon to Rise in the Night Sky over Florida: How it Affects Sleep
Orlando, Fla.
This weekend, the “Snow Moon” is expected to rise in the night sky over Florida.
According to NASA, this term indicates a full moon that happens in February, when there’s typically a lot of snow — hence the nickname.
The latest Snow Moon is set to grace the skies around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Impact of the Full Moon on Sleep
However, this could cause you to get worse sleep, according to a 2013 study.
Researchers found that around the time a full moon comes about, subjects on average:
- experienced around 20 fewer minutes of sleep per night
- took roughly 5 more minutes to fall asleep
- saw approximately 30% less deep sleep
During the study, participants weren’t able to see the moon, so researchers ruled out the idea that moonlight could be causing the poor sleep.
According to the Sleep Foundation, a possible cause for this phenomenon could be the moon’s magnetic charge, which changes throughout its orbit around the Earth.
“Research now suggests that humans may be sensitive to low-level geomagnetic variations,” the Sleep Foundation says. “Other geomagnetic events (such as geomagnetic storms and the aurora borealis) that produce geomagnetic fluctuations comparable with the moon’s impact have been connected to a range of health effects, including headaches, changes in blood pressure and blood flow, heart rate variability and even heart attack.”
Tips for Improving Sleep Quality
The Sleep Foundation offers some tips for improving your sleep quality, including:
- Investing in better bedding: A supportive mattress and pillow can ensure your spine gets proper support, and high-quality sheets can keep you comfortable at night.
- Block out light: Too much light exposure can throw off your circadian rhythm, so using blackout curtains or a sleep mask can help block it out.
- Keep it cool: Setting the thermostat to between 65 and 68 degrees can prevent you from becoming too hot or cold at night.
- Don’t nap too much: Keep naps around 20 minutes or less, and try to take them in the early afternoon if you need to. Otherwise, you can throw your sleep schedule out of whack.
- Disconnect devices: Tablets, smartphones, and computers can keep your brain wired and prevent your body from winding down for sleep.
- Be careful with what you drink: Limit caffeine after 2 p.m., and try to avoid having alcohol within an hour of bedtime. Both substances can harm your sleep quality.
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