Why Blue-light Blocking Glasses Are Going to Be Your New BFF.

We’ve all heard the sang, “how you start your day sets the tone for the rest of your day.” And there is so so so much truth to this statement. AND, there is also a big a piece of that “feel good formula” that is missing from the pie. That missing piece is the quality of your sleep you are getting the night before & how altered your circadian rhythm is.

Basically, what we’re saying is this — the night before you go to bed is what sets the tone for how you feel when you wake up. I know you know what I am talking about, right? So what is the number one block to feeling great in the am, and owning the day?! One of the biggest (often overlooked) reasons is the amount of “junk light” we’re being bombarded with from every angle.

The number one culprit to disrupted sleep and circadian imbalances? Junk light. So, what exactly is junk light?

According to True Dark, “Junk light is the over-exposure to artificial light at the wrong time of day that can aggressively inhibit your melatonin levels and the physiology of your eyes. Artificial light sources, especially LEDs, compact fluorescent (CFLs), computer, smartphone, and eReader screens are nearly unavoidable. These light sources amplify the blue, green and purple parts of the light spectrum.  Your body’s sleep-wake cycle, also known at your circadian rhythm,  is incredibly sensitive to this spectrum of light. When exposed to it at the wrong time of day or night, you end up with junk light, which impacts your ability to get quality sleep. Thousands of studies show that poor sleep leads to a host of other physical and emotional issues.”

Not only do these altered circadian rhythms affect our ability to fall and stay asleep but there exists many more implications that can contribute to down stream issues as listed in detail below. Remember, everything is interconnected.

By limiting our exposure to junk light (artificial light) and bringing our circadian rhythms back into balance we allow for the process of deep, restful sleep which allows for mind & body healing, brain detoxification and overall healing from the days' stressors and inputs.

Junk light may contribute to and, or be linked to many chronic health conditions, including but not limited to:

  • Eye strain

  • Headaches

  • Short-term memory loss

  • Problems sleeping, due to melatonin suppression

  • Stress and anxiety, due to cortisol suppression

  • Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder or depression

  • Endocrine disruption and a poor immune system

  • Female hormonal/menstrual cycle disruption

  • Weight issues

  • Agoraphobia (anxiety disorder)

  • Cardiovascular disease

Tips for creating a night-time routine that supports our circadian rhythms and the reduction of artificial light:

  1. Invest in Truedark blue-light blocking glasses for when you are exposed to artificial light from screens, and LED’s. We recommend using True Dark’s yellow and red glasses

  2. Limit all exposure to artificial light one-hour prior to going to bed — We’re BIG FANS of bringing back candle-lit evenings.

  3. Create a bedtime ritual that involves light stretching, deep breathing or journaling to help the body prepare for restful sleep.

  4. Go outside and enjoy the early morning sunshine (sunrise and one hour thereafter). This practice helps the body to recalibrate its circadian rhythms to that of our sun so that cortisol is highest in the morning (not the evening) and melatonin increases in the evening.

  5. Wake up at the same time each morning - this will over time help to normalize your sleep-wake cycle.

  6. Ensure your bedroom is your sanctuary - temperature, sheets, pillow, essential oil diffusers, and lighting make the world of difference.

  7. Use this routine as a way to get connected to your intention for the following day. Before you go to bed ask yourself, What am I grateful for today? How do I want to feel when I wake up? If you have a partner, loop them into this gratitude practice. Plus, emotional connection makes us SLEEP deeper (I don’t have science to back this, but I’m almost 100% positive).

SHOP THE POST:

Truedark® Clear Lenses: Blocks 40% of blue light with our clear lenses. The Clear Lens styles are a great solution if you work in a profession where a colored lens isn’t the right style, draws too much attention, or interfere’s with your work.

Truedark® Daywalker Elite: Blocks an optimal 75% of blue light with our yellow lenses. Yellow lens glasses are ideal for people who suffer from disrupted sleep-wake cycle/circadian rhythms.  Yellow lens eyewear is also ideal for shift workers as they can be more sensitive to artificial lighting during the dark hours they are awake, which disrupts their natural sleep-wake cycle/circadian rhythm.

Truedark® Twilight Elite: Block and optimal 98% of blue, green and violet wavelengths. Choose TrueDark red lensed Twilight Elites if you are still active around your home before bedtime. These red lensed eyewear tells your body it’s dark, helping you get ready for a great night’s sleep.

10% off Discount Code on all Truedark purchases: beingisbeautiful

Resources:

Brainard, Jason et al. “Health implications of disrupted circadian rhythms and the potential for daylight as therapy”  Anesthesiology vol. 122,5 (2015): 1170-5.

Lifestyle, Bodykylie McbeathComment