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No Bedroom Blue’s

It is estimated that on average, we are spending over 6 hours a day being exposed to artificial blue light in the form of digital screens. While much of this exposure is necessary with most jobs today requiring prolonged exposure to digital screens, we still have control over the amount of time we are spending on screens during the hours before we fall asleep.

It turns out that exposure to blue light actually suppresses the flow of melatonin in our bodies leading to lower melatonin levels overall and consequently less sleep.  We know that after coming home from a long day of work, it is habitual and easy to turn on the tv or catch up on social media. However, we believe there is a great deal of value behind practicing some new habits in the hours you have at home before you fall asleep, in order to get the most rest each night. In a study conducted by Harvard University, scientists found that those who were exposed to blue light before bed had a harder time falling asleep, spending less time in the REM cycle of sleep, and had a harder time waking up in the morning.Our bodies have a natural process of releasing melatonin a few hours before it is time to fall asleep. When we introduce blue lights into our night time routine, we throw off our body clock that tells us it’s time to sleep.

At Urban Mattress, we know that there is POWER in creating a space to sleep that encourages deep rest in every aspect. Which is why we are suggesting a sleep-space challenge to take the blue’s (artificial blue lights) out of your bedroom. By keeping your T.V. in the living room, laptop in the office, and phone on do not disturb at least an hour before bedtime, we are giving our minds and bodies proper time to wind down. This not only will benefit our physical health, but give us space to look at other ways to spend our time. By picking a few books to keep bedside, buying some luxurious bath salts or candles, writing down some thoughts in a journal or plans for the next day, or spending time with loved ones asking questions about their day we are investing in our overall health. Let’s try for one month, to take the digital screens out of our bedrooms and see if it encourages us to Wind Down Well.