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Mental Health Toolkit: Tools to Bolster Your Mood & Mental Health

Huberman Lab

NOTE

The Impact of Darkness on Mood and Mental Health

Recent research suggests that darkness during a specific stage of the 24-hour circadian cycle has positive effects on mood and mental health, independent of light and sleep. A study with over 85,000 participants found that a continuous 6-8 hours of dim to dark environment within every 24-hour cycle correlated with better mental health outcomes, regardless of the amount of light exposure or sleep obtained. This indicates that being in a dark environment for a period after waking up can improve mood and mental health. Maintaining a dim or dark nighttime environment, even while sleeping, is crucial as even small amounts of light can disrupt physiological processes. Therefore, controlling nighttime light exposure can independently enhance mood and mental health, complementing the positive effects of daytime light exposure.

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