system so that you (mentally) feel more like
Einstein than like Homer Simpson. Cortisol
levels then decline rapidly as the day
progresses, remaining low in the late evening
and overnight, helping you to relax before bed
and sleep well until morning.
LIGHTS OUT
It’s normal to have higher cortisol
levels first thing in the morning,
but artificial light (including the
light from your TV, computer,
and mobile phone) after dark tells
your body it’s still daytime. This
does not allow you to hormonally
“wind down” in the evening,
which promotes that “tired but
wired” effect. Sending your brain
daytime messages right before
bed also upsets normal hormonal
responses (like melatonin