Pop culture has successfully romanticized many things in our minds, one of them being eye masks. Many television shows and movies have shown lavish characters wearing eye masks as a part of their super posh bedtime routine. Shows like Gossip Girl or even movies like Breakfast at Tiffany’s feature gorgeous women like Blair Waldorf or Holly Golightly taking self care to the next level with this fancy nightly indulgence. And while it may seem over the top to wear an eye mask, and like an unnecessary luxury that only movie stars partake in. But the truth is there is actually more benefit to wearing an eye mask than you may actually realize. If you have been suffering from a poor night time routine that has impacted your sleep, then the eye mask may just be your saving grace. Read on to learn how sleeping in an eye mask every night will transform your life.
Here are a few ways it can help specifically
As essential as sleep is, it can be elusive to so many of us. One of the biggest aids to improved sleep is melatonin. “Melatonin’s job is to signal to the brain that it is time to get sleepy, so light exposure, particularly at night, sends the wrong signal to the brain, which can profoundly disrupt one’s ability to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep,” said Wendy Troxel, senior behavioral scientist for the RAND Corporation.
It helps the brain reach a calm state to prepare for sleep
Getting your mind geared down for sleep may not seem that important, but it is essential in getting quality rest. If you are still overstimulated from your day while you are trying to sleep, it can make it even harder to drift off to dream land. “Putting on an eye cover for sleep can be part of a calming bedtime routine that conditions your brain to recognize everything’s safe, calm, and comfortable. Your routine tells the brain it’s time to shut off and let sleep come,” Samuel Gurevich, a physician who specializes in improving and addressing sleep disorders.
Sleep masks can improve REM sleep cycles
REM sleep is a huge part of getting good rest. It is the rapid eye movement stage that is responsible for vivid dreaming and processing all the information we received during the day. It also helps to recharge energy and store memories. Eye masks give you a better environment to reach this stage of REM sleep and stay there for longer.
Sleep masks can super charge your next day alertness
Adding in an eye mask can positively impact your bedtime routine and your sleep, which will ultimately boost your next day. “Our results demonstrate that wearing an eye mask during overnight sleep can facilitate both new learning and alertness the next day,” experts at Sleep concluded in a recent study.
Eye masks can help cut down on wrinkles
Would you believe that eye masks are a great anti aging tool as well? Sleep imprints can happen when our faces are pressed hard against the bed or pillow. This can in turn cause wrinkles, but sleep masks can alleviate this possibility. “Nighttime masks do a good job of keeping skin in place while you sleep, so even if there is a lot of pressure, the skin does not fold on itself,” said. dermatologist Rachel Nazarian.
