These days, a lot of us rely on technology to work. Our computers, laptops, and phones have become integral to many people's jobs, and with this comes a lot of screen time for us.
However, screen time can be harmful to us because of something called blue light. But what is blue light, how does it affect us, and what can you do to avoid it?
What Is Blue Light?
Blue light is one part of the visible light spectrum, consisting of short, high-energy waves. You can find this light on the screens of laptops, televisions, smartphones, and other displays. On top of this, the sun itself emits blue light rays when it shines on Earth, so we all come into contact with it daily in one way or another.
Now, it's important to remember that blue light isn't considered to be a highly dangerous light ray, unlike UV or gamma rays. In comparison, blue light is pretty tame.
However, scientists and doctors are now expressing concern over our constant exposure to it, and the effect it may be having on our bodies. So, what are the dangers surrounding blue light, and how can it affect your productivity?
Why Is Blue Light Harmful?
There are a number of negative outcomes associated with blue light exposure, the first of which is difficulty sleeping. Doctors have suggested that blue light can interfere with your circadian rhythm and mess with your natural sleep cycle. This is particularly problematic at night.
Research has shown that being exposed to blue light for just two hours at night can cause a decrease or halt in the release of melatonin, a hormone that is released by the pineal gland to control your sleep cycle. This, in turn, can leave you dealing with sleep deprivation, and we all know how severely this can affect one's productivity.
But this isn't where it ends with blue light. Exposure can also lead to headaches, blurry vision, and dry or irritated eyes. It can also trigger migraines in those with photophobia.
All of these symptoms can also heavily affect one's productivity, given how we rely on our eyes so much to get things done. At the end of the day, without a clear mind and without proper vision, working, or doing anything at all, can be incredibly difficult.
One of the most concerning consequences of blue light exposure is retinal damage, more specifically macular degeneration. This phenomenon involves the decreased quality of one's vision due to prolonged damage to the retina. While not all in the medical community agree on this, some studies have shown that long-term exposure to blue light can result in age-related macular degeneration.
So, blue light certainly can affect one's productivity, and many of us probably experience headaches, sleep problems, or other physical issues without realizing that blue light is the culprit! So, how can you get work done while being exposed to blue light while also stopping it from interfering with your productivity levels?
How to Avoid Blue Light Damage
There are a number of ways that you can prevent blue light from making contact with your eyes, the first of which being blue light glasses. Blue light glasses work by filtering out blue light from the visible light that reaches our eyes, therefore preventing any symptoms that can come from blue light exposure.
Blue light glasses can be found easily online these days, including on Amazon, Depop, and eBay. What's more, they're not pricey at all. You can find a great pair of blue light glasses for around $30! So give these a go if you're okay with sparing the cash.
However, if you don't want to spend money on blocking blue light and aren't particularly keen on wearing glasses, you can give blue light filters a go. These filters can be installed on your devices to block the emission of blue light.
There are a number of mobile apps that you can use to block blue light, many of which are totally free of charge. Some smartphones also come with built-in blue light filters that you can activate whenever you like.
Blue Light May Be Harmful, but You Can Avoid It
Blue light is pretty sneaky in its negative effects. Who knew our computer screens were messing with our eyesight, sleep patterns, and more?
It's certainly surprising, but you can effectively cut down on your exposure to blue light with the solutions above and keep your productivity levels high.