Tag: Blue light

Balance

Posted on by Ginger

As you can see I am trying to get into the rhythm of posting every other day… or 3-4 times a week. I want to be sharing our journey while also keeping a good balance for my family. Balance is so important in life, but can feel so elusive at times. The use of technology can be an especially hard balancing act. If you are like me you appreciate a phone that can help you navigate to unknown places, do a quick google search and connect you to friends and family all over the world. At the same time there is this challenge of being “too connected” digitally while not connecting in person nearly enough. And of course, it’s not just our social life that can be affected by our overuse of technology. It’s not uncommon for me to get swept up working on my computer at night, with it’s intrusive blue light, instead of allowing my body time to prepare for going to bed. The blue light that our computers, TVs and phones emit can inhibit the natural production of melatonin, which in turn affects our ability to fall and stay asleep. With my challenge this month to get to bed by 11 pm each night, I have noticed that my evenings are not very “technologically” balanced. I really need to be turning off ALL digital devices at least an hour before I plan on going to sleep. I also need to be utilizing my salt lamps in the evening, with their gentle red glow, instead of all the LED bulbs throughout our house.

We often think of good bedtime routines as essential for our little children, but often forget how important they are for us as adults. We tend to push ourselves from the time we wake up until the time we fall into bed at night. But what if we started to create simple and sleep supportive bedtime routines for ourselves? Would we notice a difference in our sleep quality? What if we kept technology out of our rooms so that our bodies would get a break from all the EMF’s that these devices are exposing us too? (Check out the great article below on EMFs.) Before I go further, let me clarify, these are routines, not a set of unbreakable rules to add stress to your evening! The idea of creating a bedtime routine is to develop a habit of unplugging and unwinding from all the stress of the day. So don’t make it something elaborate that will cause angst and guilt because you don’t do it just perfect and exact each night. Keep it simple! My goal is to “unplug” an hour before my bed time and boil water for a relaxing cup of tea. My husband needs to do something with his brain to help it disconnect from all the worries of the day. He often plays a game on the computer before bedtime, but for his birthday we bought him a bunch of Sudoku books from the local dollar store. It’s good to understand what your brain needs to relax, but then try to find a “tech-free” way to achieve it.

I understand that there are also devices and even apps you can purchase that help block and limit the blue light from electronic devices. I have a pair of blue light blocking glasses for when I use my computer. But I would like to challenge us to find a way to actually take a break from technology and unplug for at least that last hour of the day. In a world so consumed with technology we need to be even more aware of our need to disconnect. Balance is a tricky thing, and everyone’s needs will be different. But universally we all need to disengage from the noise of technology so we can enjoy the quiet, take a break from social media to connect with the people in front of us, and detach from our virtual worlds to absorb the nature around us! What step will you take this week to find a better balance in your relationship with technology?

“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

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