What should you know about new moon insomnia?

A new moon is darker than a full moon, but noticing poor sleep on those nights does not prove that the lunar phase caused it. Changes in bedtime, evening light, caffeine, alcohol, stress, travel, pain, or worry can affect sleep. Insomnia may involve difficulty falling asleep, waking repeatedly, or waking too early, followed by daytime sleepiness or difficulty concentrating.

Keep a simple sleep diary for several weeks, recording bedtime, wake time, awakenings, naps, substances, medicines, stress, and the lunar date if useful. Keep wake time steady, dim bright screens before bed, reserve the bed for sleep, and leave it briefly if you are wide awake and frustrated. Avoid driving when sleepy. A clinician can look for insomnia, jet lag, anxiety, depression, or burnout and suggest suitable treatment.

Arrange an appointment when poor sleep continues, affects work or safety, or causes persistent daytime sleepiness and concentration problems. Seek prompt help for extreme mood change, thoughts of self-harm, confusion, or several nights with almost no sleep and unusually high energy. Loud snoring, gasping, or witnessed pauses in breathing also merits assessment.

Ask what your sleep diary suggests, whether a medicine or health condition could be contributing, and whether cognitive behavioural treatment for insomnia is suitable. Mention travel, shift work, mood changes, snoring, and any pattern you noticed around the new moon.