Posted on 12/06/2022 2:08:44 AM PST by RoosterRedux
Okay. Calling Capt. Obvious.;-)
That said, I saw a video the other day in which a neuroscientist (I think it was Dr. Andrew Huberman) said that turning on a bright light to go to the restroom in the middle of the night significantly disrupts the body's steady flow of nighttime melatonin and makes it impossible for some people to return to sleep.
That is a comment that caught my attention. Now that I am older, I make many visits to the restroom at night and I turn on some bright lights when doing so. When I return to bed, I definitely find that I have trouble returning to a deep sleep (particularly after midnight).
So I tried a new approach.
Instead of turning on my bedside lamp, the hall light, and then the bathroom light, I keep my tac-light at my bedside with the brightness at a very low level (just enough visibility that I don't step on a cat tail protruding from beneath my bed). A weak flashlight would be just as effective.
Long story, short, it seems to work. Returning to bed from a visit to the loo, I immediately fall right back into a deep sleep and feel much more rested in the morning.
Of course, this is purely anecdotal, but I thought some fellow Freepers might be interested.
As an aside, I can't locate the exact video source for this topic, but, in the end, it doesn't matter because each person's experience will certainly vary.
Lol!
Same here. The only light I have in the bathroom is the green glow from the GFCI outlet.
There’s enough ambient light in my place that I don’t have to turn on any extra. Plus, I’ve been here 20 years and know my way around in low light.
My prostate is much more likely to ruin my sleep.
CC
My bed has an underbed light which lights up the floor a little. It works so I don’t need a bright light on to see where I am going.
And some people believe conspiracy theories are imaginary. Hah!
Where did you get that? That plus a dim nightlight in the bathroom might do the trick for me.
Go in for acupuncture to shrink your prostate and you can sleep all night after you are able to empty your bladder.
That helped me more than the meds.
I have an adjustable bed that comes with an underbed light. That and a night light near the potty works great.
Adjustable beds don’t cost that much anymore and are great for older people.
This is a well known fact. Small night lights either motion sensor or otherwise can be used.
I don’t turn on any lights. I know the path well and make sure it’s clear before I go to bed.
The overhead light/fan in the loo has a soft light setting. I leave it on as the night light. Since I am normally on a “two pit stop strategy” I don’t have to fumble with a light. It’s just a quick in and out of the pits and back to bed.
Other factors...waking up to use the bathroom can be connected to sleep apnea if you aren’t using a machine. Kidneys shut down based on sleep as per my therapist
Waking up and not being able to go to sleep can be insulin issue even for non diabetics. I wore a continuous monitor. I woke up when my insulin moved down. If I got up and ate something I could go back to sleep.
I agree but my reasons for not turning on a bright light is simply that I refuse to so assault my eyes in the middle of the night.
Going from full dark to normal light levels is way too much an adjustment.
So... a chamber pot.
After making sure it’s not prostate cancer.
Couldn’t prove it by me and I am definitely not diabetic.
I learned this a few years ago. I have a touch lamp that has 3 levels and the dimmest one is just enough to get there and back! Thanks for sharing.
Put a rheostat light in the bathroom, so you can set it on low, and not blind yourself. I also use an electric candle in the BR, so I can see when I get up.
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