By Sabrina Klindworth Since being home and starting classes online, I’ve found it hard to tear my eyes away from a screen. From playing apps on my phone or checking social media, then having classes and homework online, to watching Netflix on my TV, phone, or laptop later that day, I can’t seem to escape a screen. I’ve also noticed a spike in the amount of headaches I’ve been getting, and I suspected the two were connected but I had no idea all the other effects blue light can have. According to Pixel Eyewear, blue light can lead to headaches but it mainly affects your eyes, causing them to become dry or strained and causes blurry vision. I also learned that blue light can also lead to an inability to focus as well as disrupt sleep (Pixel Eyewear). So not only was my increased usage of tech giving me headaches but it was also the cause of my inability to focus! I also found that blue light can actually be helpful, in moderation. According to All About Vision, blue light can help improve memory and cognitive function, boost your alertness, and lift your mood. The issue is that our eyes aren’t good at blocking blue light and that our devices emit significantly more than the amount of blue light the sun produces (All About Vision). There are some simple ways to help reduce the amount of strain on your eyes, if you’re also feeling the effects of blue light like me. One way is to get blue light glasses, which help filter the amount of blue light that reaches your eye to reduce strain. These can start off cheap and can get more expensive, just make sure that you’re buying glasses from a reputable company so you don’t get scammed. If you’re more on the frugal side like me, there are a lot of other ways to reduce your blue light exposure without spending money. One way is utilizing the blue light filter on your phone or laptop or lowering the brightness of your screen. Other ways include limiting the amount of time on your phone and doing other activities instead. Taking a walk is one of my favorite things to do in quarantine so far and turns out it’s a great way to get the right amount of blue light. I’m able to stay off my phone, get some fresh air, stretch my muscles, and absorb natural blue light from the sun, leading to a mood boosting and more focused mindset once I get back home. If you don’t want to leave the house rocking sweatpants and a hoodie, take some time to play with your pet. I like petting with my cat and telling him about all the things I find stressful about being a human, just so that he knows what he isn’t missing out on. You can also spread the love with your family and chat with them about how their day is going or plan to spend some quality family time together without electronics, such as working on a puzzle or playing board games. The one strategy I’ve personally been putting off has been taking the time to read a book, maybe one you’ve been wanting to read or re-read a childhood favorite. So if one day you get really bored of being on a screen or start to feel the effects of blue light, take a chance and open that book or take a walk. You’re doing it for your health. If you want to learn more you can find the Pixel Eyewear article here and the All About Vision article here.
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January 2024
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