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Do you sit on your computer or other electronic device in the evening or at night while sitting in bed? This could be the cause of your sleeplessness. The blue light emitted by our computers and other electronic devices is the same as exposing ourselves to sunlight. "Light is one of the most important external factors that can affect sleep. It does so both directly, by making it difficult for people to fall asleep, and indirectly, by influencing the timing of our internal clock and thereby affecting our preferred time to sleep." Many studies have verified this information.
What can we do to combat this? There have been advances through software applications which will change the light emitted by our computers based on the time of day. "Light influences our internal clock through specialized "light sensitive" cells in the retina of our eyes. These cells, which occupy the same space as the rods and cones that make vision possible, tell the brain whether it is daytime or nighttime, and our sleep patterns are set accordingly."
There are applications that track the daylight time schedules in your area and adjust the type of light emitted from your computer accordingly. One such application is called f.lux. If you're interested in reading about it the website is justgetflux.com. If you want to read about how artificial light affects your sleep an article you can look up is "How artificial light is wrecking your sleep, and what to do about it" by Chris Kresser.
What can we do to combat this? There have been advances through software applications which will change the light emitted by our computers based on the time of day. "Light influences our internal clock through specialized "light sensitive" cells in the retina of our eyes. These cells, which occupy the same space as the rods and cones that make vision possible, tell the brain whether it is daytime or nighttime, and our sleep patterns are set accordingly."
There are applications that track the daylight time schedules in your area and adjust the type of light emitted from your computer accordingly. One such application is called f.lux. If you're interested in reading about it the website is justgetflux.com. If you want to read about how artificial light affects your sleep an article you can look up is "How artificial light is wrecking your sleep, and what to do about it" by Chris Kresser.
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Sleeping
Sleeping
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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I have a hard time falling to sleep without some sort of noise, i.e. the TV or my cellphone. I found a good app for my phone that allows my brain to relax while reading my phone. I have installed the app, "Twilight", from Google Play on my phone and tablet. That has helped a lot when I'm laying there, thinking, and reading my phone in bed. The reddish light is calming and doesn't allow my brain to stay in a constant state of alert.
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CPT (Join to see) Within 5 to 10 seconds of my head hitting the pillow I'm out for the night. I've never had a problem sleeping. I guess I'm lucky!
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
LCDR Rabbi Jaron Matlow My wife hates me for it - not totally, but because I fall asleep so fast. I can roll over and she will say something and I'm asleep - can you image?
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CPT (Join to see)
COL Mikel J. Burroughs Are you sure that's not selective hearing? ;-) Seriously, lucky you.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
CPT (Join to see) Unfortunately you are correct. I believe the male species was born with that from birth. LOL!
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CPT (Join to see) I must have my phone with me 24x7, I am always on-call when my systems go down, it can happen every so often. I do have my phone turned face down to cut down on the ambient light.
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CPT (Join to see)
LTC John Shaw Sir, this is something I'm familiar with. I understand that sometimes when we have to view things late at night even if we don't end up having to go in there is difficulty falling back asleep. There is an app for phones too if you're interested.
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Suspended Profile
Shift work and on-call are very destructive to sleep hygiene - especially if you're like me and you worry you won't hear the phone/pager. I rarely slept well when carrying the pager as the on-call chaplain...
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I turn on my computer, dial up KBOI, and listen to talk radio. Some nights I can go right to sleep, other nights I listen longer. Ever since I came back from Iraq, I've got to have no blinds on the windows, and some kind of noise in the back ground.
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Thanks, ma'am. I am up late now getting this blue light in order to read your post, and now I can't sleep.
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CPT (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) First, thank you for taking the time to read my post, I'm honored. Second, How can I help? Did you look into f.lux? I'll check to see if I can find any other apps that change the amount of blue light we receive while using our computers. If you find something or have other ideas regarding this subject, I'd love to hear them.
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CPT (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) P.S. I'm up because I just finished a long day and this is something that helps me wind down. I do use a blue light limiting app myself and I think it helps.
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1SG (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) , I was answering tongue-in-cheek, but I certainly recognize the sleep deprivation issue.
Anyone know if there is any issues with increased use of technology in the military and a decrease in combat effectiveness? I did not know there were filters available. Might be a good idea for TOCs.
Anyone know if there is any issues with increased use of technology in the military and a decrease in combat effectiveness? I did not know there were filters available. Might be a good idea for TOCs.
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CPT (Join to see)
1SG (Join to see) - That's a good question. I'm going to see if I can find any info on it. I'll get back to on it if I do and provide you with the links. I agree with you that it might be a good idea for TOCs.
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I try to stay away from my phone or computer after 9 pm. I usually have issues falling asleep because I am pain from my hip and back.
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no problem getting to sleep, the problem is staying asleep...4-4.5 hours a night. Would love to have more. But then again naps are great!
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CPT (Join to see)
SFC John Durham Sorry to hear that. Every once in a while I take some OTC PM med.... usually on nights when I'm also in pain, so I can fall asleep. If it's too late I don't take anything because it will make me groggy the next day.
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Actually, i found that when tired i sleep better (and sometimes on the keyboard) in front of the computer. I get up - shut off the computer and stumble into bed to find myself wide awake and starring into nothingness.
Now when i get tired, i go to my room grab my small pillow, come back to the computer, move the keyboard aside, arrange my pillow where it was - read an article and sleep soundly to morning. Sometimes i wake with a crick in my neck and swear that i will come up with a better plan for sleeping - but then i forget.
Now when i get tired, i go to my room grab my small pillow, come back to the computer, move the keyboard aside, arrange my pillow where it was - read an article and sleep soundly to morning. Sometimes i wake with a crick in my neck and swear that i will come up with a better plan for sleeping - but then i forget.
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SSG Katherine Likely
yes - sometimes i read a dry manual or book and it does the trick - but, mostly it is the keyboard and i that really connect - lol.
I love the pillows on the bed and the blankets in your picture - but if the bed isn't soft - i just toss and turn. My legs are restless and my mind is constantly at war with them - about resting.
I love the pillows on the bed and the blankets in your picture - but if the bed isn't soft - i just toss and turn. My legs are restless and my mind is constantly at war with them - about resting.
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