Become a ‘Light’ Sleeper For A Better You

Each of us has a circadian clock. This is a biological timekeeper which controls our sleep and wakefulness, and is the master of how, when and for how long you can sleep and stay awake. Either by default or design, humans have become very adept at negatively manipulating their circadian clocks, and modern life doesn’t help either. Ideally, we should be readying ourselves for nightly slumber as soon as the daylight begins to wane and conversely rise to start the day at the first peek of light in the morning. While we may not achieve perfect balance with this, we can endeavour to do better each day.

Hack the Day

 Daylight has a profoundly powerful effect on our sleep and overall wellbeing, and even just as little as 30 minutes of natural light exposure a day is beneficial. However, the problem we face in our modern lives is finding ways to exposure ourselves to sunlight or daylight daily . Ilia Karatsoreos, an associate professor of integrative physiology and neuroscience at Washington State University in Pullman shares her suggestions on reuters.com, “There are many easy things we can do to increase our exposure to sunlight …perhaps leaving your desk and getting out in the bright sun for lunch could help.”

Get Tough on Artificial Light

We know that blue light, the kind emitted by cellphones, televisions and computers is the enemy of sleep. But bright light in the evening also influences our sleep. Simply put, bright light exposure as little as 2 hours before your bedtime will push your sleep time later. And a later bedtime means you’ll likely wake up later in the morning. We can’t live in the dark, but we can opt to use dimmer light or lamp light, and try to switch off from televisions, computers and cellphones at least 3 hours before you intend to get your shuteye.

Conduct a Sleep Space Audit

We can’t escape the challenges of modern life, but we can aim for better control of our exposure to natural and artificial light. The general rule of thumb is more light exposure earlier in the day and less light exposure in the evening. Physical discomfort directly affects sleep and can lead to multiple ‘wakeful’ episodes during the night. We know that broken sleep has a cumulative negative effect on our wellbeing. Take some time to audit your sleep space; how much are you able to control the level of light on your bedroom? Do you have the means to cool your room down if needed? Does your mattress support your weight while providing comfort? These are the factors that work together to support your best sleep. Today, there is a great variety of beds available but not all are made equal. Lylax® is a well-renowned and trusted South African brand, that has been delivering value and quality to the market for over 35 years. With strict quality vetting and world-class technology weaved into the beds they manufacture and sell, Lylax® is proudly endorsed by the Chiropractic Association of South Africa (CASA). Isn’t it time you invested in the best sleep of your life? Lylax® is here to support you all the way.

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