We all know that a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things you can do to keep your body happy and healthy. Not only can lost sleep lead to increased levels of anxiety and depression because of how it affects the chemicals within the brain, but it can lead to obesity, heart disease, and even diabetes. If you’re having trouble sleeping you may be looking to different aspects of your routine — like how much coffee you’re drinking, your mattress, or exercise, but have you considered your phone use? With most of us developing what could nearly be described as a cell phone addiction, the effects of what’s known as blue light have been studied with more and more intensity.
What Is Blue Light?
While its name may not be the most straightforward indicator, blue light is the type of lighting emitted by most electronic devices. Different lighting types come from different wavelengths of light. You may notice that warm lighting, as you might find in a living room, often has a yellow tone that creates a cozy feeling. Phones and electronics like tablets, game systems, and computer all use a blue toned wavelength that mimics natural light. While this wavelength is great for daytime as it helps keep your mind active and engaged, at night it can create a significant problem.
The Blue Light Problem
Because it is developed to mimic daylight, blue light from your phone tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daytime. This can have an effect on the way your brain perceives time and disrupt the circadian rhythm. In short, it causes your mind to believe that it’s not time for sleep which makes falling asleep and staying asleep much more difficult.
How Do You Fix It?
There are many steps you can take to reduce the effect of blue light on your sleeping abilities. The most effective method is to stop using your phone altogether at least thirty minutes, and preferably two hours before you go to bed. This allows your brain to realize the real-time and adjust accordingly. If you must use your phone, only do so if it has a night setting, in new developments, many phone manufacturers have enabled a night shift setting that changes the color of the lighting to a yellow that is less likely to interfere with your rest.
Sleepwell Is the Key to A Good Night’s Rest
With over 85 years in business, Sleepwell has been supplying consumers and retailers with the highest quality mattresses and bedding products in the industry. Sleepwell is a family-owned company that knows the true value of a good night’s rest and what it takes to achieve it. Our experts know how to match every customer with the right products. We service Maryland, Delaware, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. You can reach us at 301‐322‐1000. Also, be sure to follow Sleepwell on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter!