Name: What is melatonin -- and should you take it to fall asleep?
Uploaded: 2021-12-01T15:20:40Z
Duration: 2 min 20 s
Description: Melatonin is the hormone that tells our brains and bodies it's time to sleep. But if you think melatonin supplements will significantly improve your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, you may have been misled. Sleep scientist Matt Walker shares how this "hormone of darkness" really works.

Melatonin is the hormone that tells our brains and bodies it's time to sleep. But if you think melatonin supplements will significantly improve your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, you may have been misled. Sleep scientist Matt Walker shares how this "hormone of darkness" really works.

Matt Walker: What is melatonin -- and should you take it to fall asleep?

What is melatonin -- and should you take it to fall asleep?

For better sleep, focus on regularity, cool environments, evening dimness, morning light, and daily physical activity over supplements.

Melatonin, dubbed the 'hormone of darkness,' modestly speeds up sleep onset by 3.9 minutes and improves sleep efficiency by 2.2%.

To optimize sleep, focus on regularity, cool bedrooms at night, evening darkness, morning natural light, and daily physical activity.