The Real Science of Sleep (Without Melatonin)
- Michael
- Jul 18
- 2 min read
🛌 Melatonin? Nah, mate.
You don’t need melatonin. You need a break. From your brain. From the scrolling. From the 2am overthinking Olympics where your greatest hits play on repeat.
Lights Out was built for that. But without chucking hormones at the problem and hoping for the best.
❌ So why not melatonin?
Look, melatonin’s a hormone. One your body already makes when it’s dark and you stop pretending your phone is the sun. Chucking more of it in might seem smart… until it isn’t.
Melatonin isn’t a sleep starter. It’s a timer. Think of it like a bouncer dimming the lights in a club. It tells your brain it’s time to wind down, but it doesn’t do the kicking out. That’s up to GABA, adenosine, and other brain chemicals that do the actual knock-you-out bit.
And the kicker? Melatonin can mess with your natural rhythm if you rely on it. Jet lag? Fine. Every night? That’s like training your body to forget how to do its job.
Plus, ever had a melatonin hangover? Yeah — groggy, moody, and feeling like you’ve been licked by the grim reaper herself (hi).
✅ What we do use (and why it works)
Magnesium Glycinate Not just for muscle bros. This stuff calms your nervous system like a pint and a hug from your nan. No runs, no weird dreams, just pure chill.
L-Theanine Found in green tea. Balances your brain’s excitability. In other words, it tells the mental rave in your head to pack it in without knocking you unconscious.
Ashwagandha Don’t worry, it’s not woo-woo. It’s an adaptogen, meaning it helps your body adapt to stress. Less cortisol = easier sleep.
Chamomile + Lemon Balm Yeah, yeah, you’ve heard of them. But we didn’t sprinkle in a fairy fart’s worth. We dose properly. These herbs actually relax you when you give them room to work.
🧠 It’s not just about sleep! it’s about shutting the f*ck down!
You don’t need to be sedated. You need to switch off. Lights Out doesn’t knock you over the head with a pharmaceutical frying pan. It whispers “shhhh” to your nervous system and gives it the nudge it needs to do what it was built to do.
No dependency. No next-day zombie shuffle. Just decent sleep, like your body used to do before caffeine, cortisol, and doomscrolling became hobbies.
The Short Version (No Waffle)
Melatonin’s a hormone. Not for everyday use. Can screw with your brain’s timing.
Lights Out skips it. Still works. Better, actually.
Uses magnesium, L-theanine, ashwagandha, and real calming herbs.
Helps your brain power down naturally. No grog, no side effects.
You’ll sleep. You’ll wake up. You’ll feel like a human again. Shocking, I know.
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