Light and Sleep

[Stravinsk]

I discovered recently that LED lighting can effect melatonin production and thus disrupt sleep. Particularly, white and blue light. Other forms of light (candles, incandescent light) puts off a different color spectrum that does not disrupt melatonin.

Since I'm on my computer a lot at night, I've incorporated a program that switches the color temp to a lower Kelvin range. I'm also thinking of replacing a main lighted area of my place to something that, while still led, emits something in the 2700-3000k range.

Have you experienced better sleep switching to warmer colored lights instead of blue/white leds?

 

[Messy]

I put the brightness on my phone on low and I can put it on 'comfortable screen for your eyes'. My eyes started to hurt from the bright light. The phone doesn't disrupt my sleep, cause I often fall asleep behind it.

 

[Albion]

Have you experienced better sleep switching to warmer colored lights instead of blue/white leds?

I can't say as I have, but my computer has a function that switches the light from the usual blue light to some pinkish-yellowish tint according to what time the user sets it to start and end. However, I haven't noticed much, if any, change in my sleep as a result of using it. What I have noticed is that it's easy to get used to that light and then, when it's switched back to blue light, how intense that seems to be.

I do feel that the time spent online prior to turning in for the night makes a difference, so now I may check my emails or this website just before heading to bed, but I try to make it brief.

 

[Stravinsk]

Last night was the first night I used a way reduced blue/white on my computer, opting for about 2700K or fairly red for several hours on the computer before bed.

I didn't get any more sleep than normal, but I did feel more refreshed when I woke today. Course, that perception may be the placebo effect, or just that I was paying attention, but the feeling was real.

I came across the following which initially got me interested (forward through 1.5m of his street lights to see several local news clips), then went to various sources to see if there was more to it. Indeed there was.

 

[Stravinsk]

Side note: Several years ago a Aussie government sponsored program offered as may led's as I could fit into sockets for free. I took it of course...because...well...it's just led's right? Naively thought the government was trying to save me money without really thinking about it...government doesn't usually do that just for it's own sake. I suppose I should have been suspicious...but again...it was only some led globes...

Anywhoo...rethinking that whole thing now.