Use Blue-Light Glasses for a Better Nights Sleep

Use Blue-Light Glasses for a Better Nights Sleep

Are you regularly hoping for a good night’s sleep so you can be more productive the next day?  I know I do!  I find that by 3 p.m. I am struggling to stay focused, complete tasks, or even gain motivation to create a healthy dinner for my family.  If you are feeling the same way, you are not alone!


Since Covid-19, more and more people are now working from home.  It is also quite likely that this trend will continue as more businesses will allow their employees to work from home.  Working from home has so many added benefits. According to an article in Monster.com, Stanford professor, Nick Bloom conducted a study to evaluate the benefits of working from home. He found workers were more productive, got more done, worked longer hours, took fewer breaks, and used less sick time than their in-office counterparts. And the best benefit?  It makes employees happier!


I have recently started working from home since Covid-19.  Since working from home, there has been a huge shift in the amount of screen time I have been exposed to.  It’s now not just my computer or smartphone I’m looking at - I am looking at everyone else’s.  I have drastically increased my Netflix and Prime binge-watching, I read more ebooks and how can I forget homeschooling my children!?  So, what can all of this screentime do to our sleep patterns?  In short, it completely messes up your circadian rhythm.  According to David C. Holzman, these devices emit light of a blue wavelength, which may trick your brain into thinking it’s daytime.  This affects the quality of sleep we are getting and in turn affects our productivity the next day.


This is where my blue light glasses have been a Godsend! Since I have started wearing them, my sleep has improved dramatically and I have found myself much more productive and less tired the next day.  According to Kimberley Burkhart and James Phelps,  in one 2-week study, 20 individuals used either blue-light-blocking glasses or glasses that didn’t block blue light for 3 hours before bedtime. The former group experienced major improvements in both sleep quality and mood. No one in my household wants to see me cranky!


With a night of better quality sleep, I find that my reaction time is better, I can problem-solve with ease, I have much more patience with my children and I don’t feel sluggish during that 3 p.m. meeting.  At times, I get busy and I forget to wear them and boy, do I ever feel it the next day!  Here are some tips to assist you with understanding how blue-light glasses can help you get more sleep and be more productive the next day.


Tips:

  1. Put the blue-light glasses beside your bed on your nightstand.  I am lucky because I have two pairs. This will help you remember to wear them in case you leave your other pair downstairs.  Make it a habit to put them on to binge-watch your new Netflix show.
  2. Apply the 20-20-20 rule.  This rule says that for every 20 minutes you look at a screen, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.  While writing this I have had to do this a few times!  I set a timer on my phone so I remember to do it!
  3. Set timers.  I am not someone that needs glasses, but I still need to give my eyes a break during the day when I am working.  So, I set timers.  I usually do 20-minute increments because it allows me time to get tasks accomplished and gives my eyes a break after for the next 20 minutes.  I have my blue light glasses at my work station so I have easy access to them while I work.
  4. Find a trendy style you will wear.  You are more likely to use the glasses if you like how they look on you and are comfortable to wear.  Like I mentioned before, I have two pairs.  The pair I leave downstairs at my work station is super chic and cute!

 

So, are you sick of waking up and feeling unrested? 


Then what are you waiting for?


Without a good night’s sleep, you will be less productive.  Wearing blue light glasses can increase the amount of quality sleep you will have each night and therefore improve your productivity the next day.  No more trips to the coffee carafe at 3 p.m.!



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