We’re all spending a lot more time on our screens this year. Many of us have transitioned our jobs into our home office, and our computer screen time (i.e blue light exposure) has likely skyrocketed as the line between work time and home time has become less distinct. Our screens have also become the lifeline we have with our friends, community and family, not to mention how many people “relax” and also stay up to date on the world.

In short, many people are spending upwards of 8 hours or more a day on a screen.

This dramatic increase in screen time has some lasting effects on our entire body. WIth this constant exposure to blue light for such an extended time, we should be mindful of the effects that blue light has on our overall health and wellbeing.

What is “Blue Light”?

Blue light is one of the colors of light we all experience during our waking hours. Evolutionarily, we are adapt to respond to blue light with alertness and are accustomed to receiving this light while the sun is shining. However, with the advent of artificial lighting in our homes and the electronics we are all addicted to, we are viewing blue wavelengths well past the hours of normal sunlight exposure, which is very unnatural for our body’s natural circadian rhythm.

Read more: Harvard Health on the Effects of Blue Light 

Blue Light Disrupts Sleep Rhythms

The exposure of light at night has been shown to suppress the secretion of melatonin – the hormone necessary for us to fall and stay asleep. This includes blue light from our phones, TV’s and computers. In a time when the world seems to never sleep, it can feel impossible to naturally dim our lights and stay away from screens after sunset, and many people are certainly paying the price for it. Difficulty falling and staying asleep can be due to the disrupted circadian hormonal cycle when the body is not receiving predictable environmental signals to secrete melatonin and decrease cortisol. These environmental cues are essential for our long term sleep patterns and rest quality.

Read More: Circadian Rhythm Triggers and Good Sleep

How to Decrease Blue Light Exposure

Wearing blue light blocking glasses while on your phone or computer may be helpful in protecting your eyes from too much blue light exposure, especially at later or darker hours of the day and night. Also, limiting your screen time each day is very important. For the next week, really pay attention (even set a timer!) to how much time you’re on a screen. This includes every time you check your phone, write an email, or concentrate on your tasks for work. You may be shocked at how many hours you find yourself staring at the screen – particularly after the sun has set. Take screen breaks during your day. For 10 minutes each hour, step away from the screen and gaze outdoors, if possible.

If possible, remove all screens from your bedroom (and your children’s bedrooms). For many, this is a way we “zone out” or relax before bed, but the long term effects of blue light exposure on sleep should change your mind. This is a night time habit that was likely formed long ago. We can all make new habits – even when they’re tricky to implement for the first few weeks.

Read more: Sticking to a Habit: The Definitive Guide

If you or a family member are having trouble with maintaining a healthy work / life balance, or need support with achieving quality sleep, consider making an appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors at Richmond Natural Medicine. Click Here to schedule an appointment.