Sleep aid tools - Now available at the Scott Library

A good night’s sleep is an important contributor to academic success, as well as our overall well-being. Yet, we’re often the architects of our own destruction: staying up an extra hour or four to get work done, texting or using other devices before bed or not maintaining a consistent sleep schedule. Breaking those habits is easier said than done, but thanks to a generous donation from the folks behind the Dream Big, Sleep Tight initiative, the John W. Scott Health Sciences Library has some new equipment available to help you get a good night’s sleep and give yourself a boost during energy lulls.

The Scott Library is lending out Blue Light Blocking Glasses and BLU Light Energy Lamps. Blue light, which is emitted by the sun and our digital devices, suppresses the sleep-promoting neurons in the brain and the body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that initiates drowsiness. When we use our digital devices within a couple hours of going to bed, these physiological processes are hindered and it becomes more difficult to fall asleep. By wearing blue light blocking glasses, you can use your devices within two to three hours of bed without sabotaging your sleep.

The energy lights work the opposite way. If you have difficulty staying conscious in the morning or get groggy at midday, just 20-30 minutes with one of these lamps can help shake off the cobwebs and put you in an alert mindset. These lamps can also be used as a quick pick-me up if you’re feeling some of the effects of seasonal affective disorder (if this aspect appeals to you, we also lend out Light Therapy Lamps from a number of our campus libraries).

Visit the service desk at the John W. Scott Health Sciences Library to borrow one of these phenomenal sleep tools. Both the lights and glasses can be borrowed for up-to three weeks at a time.