This $19 Amazon Bedroom Swap Helped Me Sleep WAY Better
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It's no secret that sleep is important to our overall health and wellbeing. Getting quality shut-eye each night can help prevent chronic disease, boost mood, and even improve cognitive abilities, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Conversely, there are some things that can hinder our ability to get enough sleep, including a too-warm bedroom (cooling bedding can help with that), a snoring sleep partner, certain health conditions, or a hectic travel schedule. However, one of the most common sleep-stealing culprits is the blue light that comes from our LED screens, fluorescent lights, and digital devices.
Admittedly, I'm not someone who always practices 'good sleep hygiene.' I don't turn off my phone an hour before bed and place it in another room (au contraire, I'm guilty of mindlessly scrolling through TikTok for hours), and my husband loves to fall asleep with Netflix on in the background. Since becoming pregnant, getting enough shut-eye has become increasingly important to me, so I've been doing research on ways to improve my sleep quality. I'll spare you from going down the insanely deep Google rabbit hole, but blue light before bed equals no good.
While you can invest in a pair of blue light-blocking glasses, I found an easier (and much more affordable) solution: amber light bulbs. If you look at the color wheel, orange sits directly across from blue. It may sound woo-woo, but the same concept works for the wavelengths of lightbulbs. Amber, red, or orange lightbulbs can actually block blue light to maintain your body's natural circadian rhythm. Not to mention, these lights can help reduce eye strain and create a cozy atmosphere in your bedroom that's perfect for winding down.$18.99 at amazon.com
It's even backed by research: The Sleep Foundation recommends using bulbs that are orange or red if you want to have lights on or read before bed. I decided to put it to the test and bought these two bulbs for under $19 on Amazon. I put my phone away, placed the bulbs in my bedside lamps, turned off all overhead lights, and immediately felt more relaxed. The amber lights create a super chill environment that sets the tone for winding down, and they're so much easier on my sensitive eyes in a dark room. Even my husband, who has no strong design opinions, says he loved the way they looked and felt in our bedroom. He even (gasp!) fell asleep within five minutes of his 30-minute TV sleep timer.
I also slept better and longer than I normally would. I've been using them for about three months now, and I'm never going back to LED lightbulbs in our bedroom. I'll be buying more bulbs for our baby's nursery (after all, who wants to deal with bright lights during a 3 a.m. feeding?). Plus, I figure if these little investments help my husband and me sleep better, they can work for our kiddo, too.
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