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Seeing red usually means youβre about to blow a fuse β but when it comes to sleep, it might be just what your brain needs.
Dave Asprey, the self-proclaimed βFather of Biohacking,β swears by a clever iPhone trick that uses red light to keep your screen from sabotaging your sleep β and itβs not just switching to βnight shiftβ mode.
βThis is what biohackers do so that their phones donβt wake them up at night,β Asprey told The Post.
Why blue light is the real sleep demon
It all comes down to your circadian rhythm β the internal clock that signals when itβs time to wake up and when itβs time to wind down.
As the sun sets, your brain kicks into nighttime mode by releasing melatonin, a hormone that makes us feel tired.Β But the blue light from your phone and other screens interferes with that process by suppressing melatonin production, making it harder to fall β and stay β asleep.
Worse yet, research suggests that blue light doesnβt just delay sleep; it also impacts its quality. Studies show that nighttime exposure can reduce the time we spend in deep sleep and rapid eye movement sleep, which are both crucial for consolidating memories, regulating mood and supporting overall cognitive function.
This poses a significant problem, especially since nearly 90% of Americans report using a screen in bed before falling asleep most nights, according to a Sleepopolis survey.
Red light to the rescue
The Sleep Foundation recommends powering down your electronic devices, like cellphones, at least 30 minutes before bed. But in todayβs plugged-in world, thatβs easier said than done β including in the middle of the night.
βYou should be able to wake up, check your alarm and go back to sleep, but if your iPhone is on this standard blinding mode, it doesnβt work,β Asprey said.Β
His simple fix? Turn your iPhone screen red.Β
Unlike blue light, red light has longer wavelengths, which our eyes perceive as darker. Some research suggests that it may also stimulate melatonin production, rather than suppress it.
One study found that female athletes who used red light therapy for 30 minutes a night over two weeks slept better, had higher melatonin levels and even performed better in endurance exercises compared to a placebo group.Β
Thereβs also evidence that red light may help preserve night vision and reduce grogginess after waking up.
How to activate red mode on your iPhone
Make your screen sleep-friendly in seconds with these simple steps:
- Open SettingsΒ
- Tap Accessibility
- Go to Display & Text Size
- Select Color Filters
- Toggle Color Filters on, then pick βColor Tintβ as your filterΒ
- Scroll down and slide Intensity and Hue all the way to the right.Β
βIf you do that, when you wake up in the middle of the night or read your phone before going to sleep, itβs so dim that it doesnβt trigger your brain to wake up and be active,β Asprey said.Β
To streamline the process, set up a shortcut:
- Open Settings
- Select Accessibility
- Scroll to the bottom and tap Accessibility Shortcut
- Choose color filters
Now, youβll be able to instantly switch between normal mode and red mode by simply triple clicking your iPhoneβs right-side lock button.Β
βThe difference in your quality of sleep will be profound,β Asprey said.Β