some facts about blue light

it isn't totally awful

- this is the term used for the glow emitted by electronic screens; you've probably heard

- it's very environmentally friendly and primarily produced by the sun; it's the reason the sky is blue!

- its blue wavelengths are shorter than that of other colors of light, meaning it produces a higher energy level

but it can be harmful for your health in some cases

- blue light suppresses melatonin and stimulates your brain, making it more difficult to fall asleep (this is why i suggested getting off screens before bedtime, to let it wear off)

- it tricks your brain into believing it's not as late as it is

- constant exposure damages parts of your eyes in a long-term way (UC Davis), especially if you're staring at it exclusively at night. overexposure can cause eyestrain, fatigue, headaches...

in conclusion, natural blue light during daytime = good, too much screen time at night = bad.

what's too much, though?

set a bedtime for yourself. experts recommend at least 8 hours of sleep for tweens and teens, so that could be anywhere from 9:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., depending on when you have to get up. if you find yourself saying that's way too early, that's not good

(keep in mind that lights-out time is not the same as actually-falling-asleep time! obviously the hope is that you fall asleep quickly after you turn the light out, but if you're currently trying to adjust from a previously rather terrible sleep schedule, this will be difficult. the sooner you close your eyes, the sooner you sleep. unless you have insomnia.

when should you stay up?

see the academic tab.