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Health

24th Apr 2019

The simple trick that will make you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow

Trine Jensen-Burke

Trying to get into the habit of going to bed at a sensible time, but find that you just cannot fall asleep once you get there?

We feel you. It can be hard to switch off and tune out, for sure.

But new year, new sleep habits and we for one are totally on for trying this rather unexpected (and also surprisingly stylish) sleep hack we just read about.

Are you ready? Just start wearing your sunglasses around the house for a couple of hours before bedtime

Yup, you heard us. According to US sleep researcher Glenn Landry, it all boils down to the terrible problem of blue light — as in the type of electronic light emitted from your devices, like mobile phone, iPad, laptop and even your TV screen.

We have known for a while that these can seriously mess with our circadian clock, which is the system that matches up our behaviour with environmental changes like day to night.

But enter some (stylish) shades, and you might have lessened the problem – and can hang on to your social media habit while still getting your beauty snooze.

Landry suggests to CBC News  wearing sunglasses for two hours before bedtime to trick your circadian clock into thinking it is time to go to sleep. He explained why he does it:

“Beginning at eight at night, or roughly two hours before the time I want to go to bed, I wear sunglasses.

“Not because my future’s so bright, but because I’m trying to avoid light. I’m trying to tell my clock that this is the end of the day.”

Now, this trick may seem a little odd, but if it helps get your body’s circadian rhythm back on track, there’s no harm right?

Also, we can’t help but think we’ll look a little Audrey Hepburn-y while sipping our vino on the sofa wearing our best sunglasses…