Learn how to reset your circadian rhythm, combat insomnia, and protect your health by using sunrise and sunset exposure, along with blue light blocking glasses like Ra Optics, to improve sleep and well-being.
Sleep deprivation goes well beyond feeling exhausted – it puts you at greater risk for obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even Alzheimer’s. According to Stanford researchers, a sleep deficit of 4 hours is enough to cut the activity of your stem cells in half.
So what’s the answer to chronic insomnia? Our bodies naturally want to follow the rhythms of the sun cycle and one very effective remedy is to reset the body’s natural clock, known as the Circadian rhythm, by stepping outside every morning to watch the sunrise and every evening to watch the sunset. Don’t wear sunglasses for this; just let your eyes take in the natural light. The light from the sunrise and sunset is particularly beneficial for our health due to its composition and the way our bodies are programmed to respond to these natural cues.
Blue light, which is strongest during the daytime, is known for its ability to suppress the production of the sleep hormone melatonin; it keeps us awake and focused. Because your Circadian rhythm is ruled by light exposure, it is thrown off by our modern experience of scrolling through social media, binge-watching TV, reading an e-book, or sitting endless hours before a computer screen – all of which impart blue light. When we expose ourselves to this higher concentration of blue light that these screens emit, its wavelength suppresses melatonin, the sleep hormone. The bottom line — blue light at night disrupts your Circadian rhythm and can cause chronic insomnia.
Let’s face it. None of us want to go without our cell phones, our computers, our TVs. Our modern lifestyle includes the use of multiple electronic devices. A practical solution to combating the negative effect of the constant blue light they emit is to wear blue light blocking glasses. Wearing these glasses particularly during evening hours when exposure to blue light from phones, computers, and televisions is at its greatest level can help protect melatonin production by your body.
It can also help to dim household lights at dusk; limit late-night screen time, turn off the WiFi while you sleep and create an environment conducive to restful slumber. These strategies combined with technology like blue light glasses provide a comprehensive approach for combatting insomnia while improving well-being overall.
My recommendation for a great pair of blue-light blockers? Ra Optics – Ra Optics combines beauty and science in their beautifully crafted glasses, featuring day lenses that boost energy, reduce eye strain, and enhance brain function, and night lenses that improve sleep patterns and reset your circadian rhythm, offering round-the-clock health protection.
