Light Therapy for Shift Light Therapy for Shift Work DisorderWork Disorder

By Meital JamesBy Meital Jameshttp://Light-Therapy-http://Light-Therapy-Reviews.netReviews.net

Late at night, when Late at night, when most of us are most of us are sleeping, you are sleeping, you are awake and working awake and working to provide us with to provide us with medical care, keep medical care, keep us safe or create us safe or create new products that new products that we all needwe all need. .

Shift workShift work affects your well affects your well being and safety, mainly being and safety, mainly because you go against the because you go against the natural need of your body to natural need of your body to sleep at night and be awake sleep at night and be awake during the day. This is why during the day. This is why light light therapy for shift work therapy for shift work disorderdisorder makes so much sense. makes so much sense.

Since your sleep patterns are Since your sleep patterns are mainly based on exposure to mainly based on exposure to light, shift working often causes light, shift working often causes (among other problems) sleep (among other problems) sleep problems – Specifically a problems – Specifically a Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder – A disruption in the sleep-wake – A disruption in the sleep-wake cycle.cycle.

Light Therapy for Shift Light Therapy for Shift Workers – How Does it Workers – How Does it

Work?Work?Clinical research now Clinical research now

confirms that bright confirms that bright light, in specific light, in specific wavelengths, can wavelengths, can help shift the help shift the internal body clock internal body clock and regulate sleep and regulate sleep patterns when used patterns when used for 30 to 40 minutes for 30 to 40 minutes upon wakingupon waking. .

The purpose of bright light therapy The purpose of bright light therapy for shift workers is to improve sleep for shift workers is to improve sleep while off work, while simultaneously while off work, while simultaneously improving alertness and productivity improving alertness and productivity while at workwhile at work..

This is achieved by exposing yourself This is achieved by exposing yourself to a lighter-brighter than normal to a lighter-brighter than normal household lighting during prescribed household lighting during prescribed periods during the day or night.periods during the day or night.

Bright light therapy Bright light therapy is is used to expose your used to expose your eyes to eyes to intense intense (10,000 LUX), but (10,000 LUX), but SAFE amounts of SAFE amounts of lightlight, in a specific , in a specific wavelength and specific wavelength and specific time. You are NOT time. You are NOT supposed to stare supposed to stare straight into the light, straight into the light, just be exposed to it just be exposed to it from a certain distance from a certain distance (more about that below). (more about that below).

With proper use of a With proper use of a light box or light lamp, light box or light lamp, shift workers and shift workers and people who work people who work irregular hours can irregular hours can feel more alert, feel more alert, energetic and also energetic and also notice an notice an improvement in onimprovement in on--thethe--job performance, job performance, less errors and fewer less errors and fewer injuriesinjuries. .

How to Choose a Bright How to Choose a Bright Light Therapy DeviceLight Therapy Device

Light BoxesLight Boxes – Such as the – Such as the recommended recommended LitebookLitebook Elite Elite (link) (link) or the or the Philips Wakeup Light Philips Wakeup Light (link)(link). Light boxes require for you . Light boxes require for you to sit in one place, but you can do to sit in one place, but you can do what ever you want – Like reading what ever you want – Like reading your emails, books or anything else. your emails, books or anything else.

Light VisorsLight Visors – Light visors allow – Light visors allow moving around. moving around.

Light Therapy LampsLight Therapy Lamps – These look – These look just like regular lamps, you can place just like regular lamps, you can place them at your bedside or on your desk them at your bedside or on your desk at work. We recommend at work. We recommend Uplift Uplift Technologies DL930 Day-Light Technologies DL930 Day-Light Lamp (link)Lamp (link)..

How to Use Your Light BoxHow to Use Your Light Box

Before shiftBefore shift – 15-30 minutes at the start of – 15-30 minutes at the start of your day, whatever time it may be. your day, whatever time it may be.

During shiftDuring shift – 15-30 minutes again during – 15-30 minutes again during the first half of your shift, for an energy the first half of your shift, for an energy boost. boost.

After shiftAfter shift – Use sunglasses to avoid sun – Use sunglasses to avoid sun exposure on your way home, do not use the exposure on your way home, do not use the light box and darken your room as much as light box and darken your room as much as possible. You want to gearing down for sleep. possible. You want to gearing down for sleep.

At homeAt home – Avoid exposure to any light, – Avoid exposure to any light, including TV and computer monitors, before including TV and computer monitors, before you go to sleep. Even better – Wear an eye you go to sleep. Even better – Wear an eye mask to block 100% of the light. mask to block 100% of the light.

It’s best advised to consult a doctor to It’s best advised to consult a doctor to get a prescribed distance and get a prescribed distance and treatment timestreatment times. . But generally, this is But generally, this is how to use bright light therapy for shift how to use bright light therapy for shift work disorderwork disorder::

Position the light box approximately 12 Position the light box approximately 12 to 24 inches (30-60 cm) from your face, to 24 inches (30-60 cm) from your face, and offset it to a 30 to 45 degree angle, and offset it to a 30 to 45 degree angle, like sunlight coming in a window.like sunlight coming in a window.

The Top 3 Light Boxes for The Top 3 Light Boxes for Shift WorkersShift Workers

Philips Wake Up LightPhilips Wake Up Light – See our – See our full review at light-therapy-full review at light-therapy-reviews.net reviews.net

Litebook EliteLitebook Elite – See our full review – See our full review – – at light-therapy-reviews.netat light-therapy-reviews.net

Uplift Technologies DL930 Day-Uplift Technologies DL930 Day-Light LampLight Lamp