When Night Nurtures, Day Blooms

The Balance Between Sleep and Success

- Dr. Venkatraman Hegde

Human happiness truly lies between these two opposites — activity and rest, light and darkness, day and night. The deeper and more complete our sleep at night, the greater our enthusiasm, focus, and awareness during the day.

A day is like a rich tree that bears beautiful, nourishing fruits. The night, on the other hand, is like the strong roots of that same tree. No matter how tall or fruitful a tree may be, if its roots are weak, it will wither in no time. Similarly, our day's bloom with energy and achievement only when our nights provide deep, restful sleep.

Let's understand this beautiful balance and learn how to nurture it.

The Science of Sleep and Darkness

As the sun sets and darkness falls, our body begins to release a natural hormone called melatonin. This hormone helps calm the mind and prepare us for sleep. However, in today's modern world, artificial lights — from bulbs, televisions, and mobile phones — trick our brains into thinking it's still daytime. As a result, melatonin production decreases, and we struggle to get proper rest.

To support our natural sleep rhythm, we should:

• Avoid bright lights at least 1-2 hours before bedtime.

• Limit screen time on phones, TVs, and computers during this period.

• Dim the lights in your room after sunset to signal your body that it's time to relax.

When darkness surrounds us naturally, our body understands it's time to rest — and sleep becomes deep and rejuvenating.