You’re getting sleepy…very, very sleepy!
But here’s a curious question…
What makes us sleepy at night?
Our bodies are pretty good at telling the time.
We have what’s known as a body clock.
body clock
Your body clock helps your brain know when it’s daytime and when it’s night time.
So, at a certain point in the evening, your brain automatically knows that it’s time to rest.
Your brain then releases a chemical called melatonin.
melatonin
The melatonin sends a message to the rest of your body, saying it’s time for bed.
So you start to get drowsier and drowsier until, eventually, you nod off.
Melatonin levels are also affected by light.
The darker it gets, the more melatonin you produce.
So in the middle of the night, levels are at their highest, then, when the Sun comes up, the amount of melatonin drops again, and your body prepares to wake up!
So there’s your answer: in the evening, your brain releases a chemical called melatonin. This tells your body that it’s time to wind down, which makes you feel sleepy. And the darker it gets, the more melatonin you produce.
Got it? Great – another curious question answered!