Light & Vision

We squint.  Bright light that appears suddenly when we have been in relatively darker surroundings elicits a response of squinting, shielding our eyes.  It's not something we learn to do - it's innate.  We also squint when we strain to decipher something or read small print (more often as we age), or to see something in the dark.  We all do it, and humans throughout time have done it.

Back-lit screens have become a relatively recent part of daily life for most - for anyone reading this on a "device."  Blue light filters, lenses, and settings on computers, smartphones, tablets, e-readers have addressed the problematic light and its results.  Blue light isn't something our eyes should be exposed to after sunset - it is one source of sleep disorder and headaches. 

Glasses like those linked above can help filter some of the blue light for us, which is a beginning; but the lights in our homes now cause much of the same difficulty for our eyes/brain.  Believe it or not, the impact artificial lighting has on our bodies includes fat storage, hormone dis-regulation, even depression and anxiety.  It's so well-known that I have no need to cite studies - a simple search of the web reveals the evidence - just, please, look it up during daylight (wink).

So, what is a person in our culture concerned about wellness to do?  It begins at home:  dim the lighting in your home at dusk.  Open blinds and pull drapes away from windows in the daylight hours so that natural light is able to penetrate your office, home, etc.  Make it a policy to end your encounters with back-lit screens at least an hour before bedtime.  Get rest for your eyes when you must be on the computer for long periods of time - and while you're at it, move around and stretch.

Jotting with Johnna
Have you considered how much time you spend looking at screens (television, computer, smartphone, tablet, e-reader, etc.)?  What might you do with the time if you cut that by ten percent?  Of an hour, that's just six minutes, but it's an opportunity to engage in something that would build up your body, mind, soul, spirit, relationships...  In six minutes, how many sun salutations could you do?  In six minutes, how many pushups, situps, triceps dips, squats, or laps around the house could you do?  In six minutes, how connected could you become with others in your household - including pets - by focused interaction?

Remember:  you are so very worthy of the intentional alteration it takes to engineer an environment that promotes health and wellbeing.  You know your lighting is important to your overall wellness; and your focus could make all the difference.

Stay tuned.  Stay focused.  Stay well.