Artificial Light and Sleep

Darren Wright

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I read a similar article in Popular Science about how the blue light emitted from electronic devices slows the production of melatonin in the body. Here I thought getting up and getting work in the middle of the night would make me more tired to fall asleep...

http://chriskresser.com/how-artificial-light-is-wrecking-your-sleep-and-what-to-do-about-it

I’m going to try out the f.lux app on my laptop, found an app called Twilight for my android devices, both of which can be set on a sleep schedule to kick in towards bedtime. It should be interesting. I typically read on the tablet or I'm on the laptop before bed. I figured it was just because my mind was still working, so if this is the case, it should show itself pretty quickly


Windows/Mac/Linux/iphone/ipad (iphone and ipadmust be jail broken)
http://justgetflux.com/

Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.urbandroid.lux

Glasses
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000USRG90?tag=chrikres-20&linkCode=as2
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LWJCJW?tag=chrikres-20&linkCode=as2
 
I think f.lux is worth a try. My wife and I have a running battle over the bathroom lights at bed time. There are 6@6500K color temp (daylight) 100 watt equivalent lights over the mirror and I won't turn them on, preferring only a small warm color ceiling light. I've been claiming the bright daylight mirror lights will mess up our sleep. Your article will give me more ammo. The only thing missing in the studies seems to be how much duration of exposure affects melatonin production. Does 15 minutes matter, or does it take an hour? Thanks!
 
Will this explain why I'm sleepy all day and wide awake until the wee hours of the morning? ;)

Nah, you're just naturally nocturnal. There are quite a few of us out there :D

I still use an acient color scheme on my terminal windows (mostly the day job is staring at code like things in terminal windows) of white on blue which is scientifically proven to be good on your eyes. Everyone I work with just thinks I'm weird (granted the monitor choice is only one small reason).

LOML uses one of the "wakeup lights" which simulates dawn when the alarm goes off. She claims it helps a lot with the grey days in the winter here making it seem like "the sun is coming up". Not sure I notice much myself.. but..
 
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Actually it wasn't that bad this morning, but I do think I slept a little better last night. Normally I'd be up until 11:30 - midnight, but was actually getting sleepy by 10:30 or so.

I still use an acient color scheme on my terminal windows (mostly the day job is staring at code like things in terminal windows) of white on blue which is scientifically proven to be good on your eyes. Everyone I work with just thinks I'm weird (granted the monitor choice is only one small reason).

LOML uses one of the "wakeup lights" which simulates dawn when the alarm goes off. She claims it helps a lot with the grey days in the winter here making it seem like "the sun is coming up". Not sure I notice much myself.. but..

I'll have to give that scheme a try on the old putty Ryan. The light isn't a bad idea, saw one yesterday, but would have to be my wife's idea. She would kill me if a light I bought came on in the middle of her slumber. :) Been thinking about trying out that app that wakes you during your peak hour so that you go back into a deep sleep, but most likely my peak hour would be an hour off from hers and get me an elbow in the side of my chest in the middle of the night. ;)
 
I tried telling my wife about this last night but hey there is a reason we different species. Scientific evidence and her logic are on two different poles so i just said well suffer in silence then. LOL . She gets mad at me because when i hit the pillow i am like Jim i sleep. Of course age is not on her side in getting sleep.

I think i conditioned myself in the military stint i had. Learned to shut down at the slightest opportunity and its amazing what you can do with cat napping.

I do find though that the more effort i put into being organized with taking on a myriad of tasks the better i sleep because i have a method to pick them up again so dont have to keep them churning in my brain. Especially as the memory has started getting fuzzy.

I think there are merits to keeping the electronics out of our bedrooms. I actually put my phone on airplane mode when i go to bed and it lives in my office area. No tv and no laptop in the bedroom. This way no distractions or even temptation. But i have been known to suddenly spring out of bed and go look up something on my laptop. :D

Linda on the other hand wonders when her tablet is going boing boing all night long, even though its in the living room, why she cannot sleep, nuff said .:rofl:
 
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