Most bathrooms feature bright lighting, ideal for morning routines but counterproductive right before bed. Harsh light sends mixed signals to your body, disrupting its natural wind-down process.
Darkness cues your body that it's time to sleep, promoting melatonin production and circadian rhythm alignment. Bright bathroom lights counteract this, delaying sleep onset. Neuroscientist Russell Foster recommends brushing your teeth in the dark until dimmable evening settings become standard—a simple tweak backed by sleep science to help you drift off more quickly.
