By Setareh Kiumarsi
You’ve probably heard this kind of thing from lots of people when it comes to nighttime sleep:
They say, “It hits midnight and suddenly I’m full of energy! My mind is sharp and clear, and I can sit in the quiet of night and work for hours with no interruptions.”
Or, “When it’s midnight, that’s when I suddenly get hungry— I head to the fridge and binge on whatever I can find.”
But did you know that this habit is actually harmful?
Does Sleeping at Night Have a Right Time and Method?
Yes, it does!
According to Ayurveda, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., the fire element in the body increases, with the purpose of burning off toxins that have accumulated in the digestive tract throughout the day.
After 10 p.m., your body enters its natural cleansing phase.
So what happens if you’re lying down and asleep during this time?
Great— your inner fire gets to do its job properly and detox your system.
But what if you’re still awake and upright during those hours?
That same fire gets diverted; it triggers false hunger, keeps your mind overstimulated, and that energy goes into mental and physical activity instead.
As a result, your body’s cleansing process becomes incomplete or may not happen at all.
The Best Time to Sleep Is Around 10 p.m.
If you start your sleep routine sometime between 9:30 and 10:30 p.m., you’ll fall asleep far more easily than if you wait until 12 or 1 a.m.
Did you know that when you sleep on time, you’re more likely to wake up with the sunrise, feeling refreshed and full of life?
(For more on healthy wake-up times, check out the Morning Routine article in the General Ayurveda Teachings section.)
But What If You’re Used to Going to Bed at 1 a.m.?
How do you fix a late-night sleep habit?
Start by shifting your bedtime 15 minutes earlier each night.
This gentle change allows your body clock to gradually adjust, and within a week, your sleep-wake cycle can return to balance.
Also, check out older article on the Ananda page about insomnia to improve your sleep quality.
We wish you deep, peaceful, and timely sleep!
Please be sure to credit the author, Setareh Kiumarsi, when sharing or republishing this article, which was written with love and the hope of well-being for all.
