Can these nerdy, blue light blocking glasses help you sleep better at night? You might be surprised! See how and why to use them.
What does Mama Natural have in common with Bono and construction workers? We all wear special glasses at night. ?
I wear these amber glasses (blue light blocking glasses) to block out blue light at night, and in this video & post, I’ll tell you why that’s a very good thing. (Update: I like the way these glasses look better 🙂
Our devices can really mess up our sleep
That’s because those devices emit short-wavelength, or “blue” light, which has been proven to disrupt our melatonin production. Melatonin is the natural hormone that encourages sleep.
When you mess with your sleep, you mess with your health
Studies show that lack of sleep can weaken our immune system, increase inflammation, make us more prone to being overweight and depressed, and even increase our risk of death!
And researchers now believe that sleep deprivation is the #1 predictor of obesity in children.
Our gadgets aren’t the only problem
It’s not just the lights from our gadgets that are suppress our melatonin levels. One study found that just an hour of exposure to moderately bright light can suppress melatonin to near daytime levels…. which is virtually non-existent. Once again, melatonin lulls our bodies into sleep and our body starts producing it around 9 p.m.
So the intensity of the light matters, as well as the “blue” light.
What’s the solution?
Well, these blue light blocking glasses are one way to solve the problem. They block blue light regardless of its source, which lets your body produce the melatonin that helps you feel drowsy and sleep through the night.
How I use blue light blocking glasses at night
Every night at about 8, I put these babies on no matter what I’m doing – using my laptop, reading, or just hanging out. I for sure use them in the bright lights of the bathroom when I’m brushing and flossing and getting ready for bed. I even have them on hand if Paloma wakes up in middle of the night for a feeding.
Overall, I try to reduce my exposure to bright lights. So that means opting for dimmer light sources like lamps versus overhead light.
Other ways to block blue light
Some other things you can use to block blue light include:
- Special amber light bulbs. You can find tons of bulbs on Amazon that people use as “blue blockers.”
- Other companies sell blue shields that you can place over your TV, laptop, and smartphone
- Finally, you can check out free software for your laptop and smartphone called f.lux that automatically adjusts your screen’s brightness and color based on your timezone.
For me, the glasses are best
For me, the amber glasses are the easiest solution. Super easy to wear, and you can just get on with your night as you normally do.
Sleep Better With Blue Light Blocking Amber Glasses
Here are some more stylish options
Okay, if you can’t handle the dork factor of the glasses in my photo, try these options:
Blue light blocking stylish glasses
Who should wear blue light blocking glasses?
If you’re a great sleeper who can fall asleep anywhere, anytime, let me first say that I’m totally jealous, and also that you can feel free to skip these glasses and enjoy your awesome sleep powers.
If, like me, you have the occasional bad night, you have pregnancy insomnia, or you’re a light sleeper, give these glasses a try. I’ll have a link where you can find them in the video description below.
Also, a new study shows that tart cherry juice can promote good sleep.
How about you?
Have you ever felt like too much light or computer work can keep you awake at night? Would you wear crazy blue light blocking glasses like this even if the rest of your family thinks you’re nuts? Share with me in the comments below!
