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This one thing will help you make it through the winter
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If winter brings literal shivers up your spin, brace yourself because the worst time of year is upon us. Help is here. - photo by Emily Hellewell
If the thought of winter brings literal shivers up your spine and a strong desire to hibernate, all inducing a general grumpiness, brace yourself because the worst time of year is practically upon us.

Sure, its OK right now. Christmas decorations are going up everywhere and youre excited to wear the coats and sweaters that have been hanging in the back of the closest for the last three seasons. But just wait a few weeks when you havent seen the sun in days and the sidewalks are permanent sheet of ice the doldrums of winter will return.

Perhaps this year theres a way to embrace the icicles and enjoy winter rather than just enduring it.

Hygge (pronounced HOO-ga) is a Danish word that can mean being cozy, taking time for meaningful moments, creating intimacy, slowing down, not taking yourself or life to seriously, relaxing, connecting with others and having experiences that bring you joy.

Sounds lovely, doesn't it?

Heres how you can incorporate a bit of hygge in your life and make the coldest, darkest months of winter more bearable and even enjoyable.

Get outside and appreciate the beauty of winter

This year, put on your warmest layers then get outside as often as you can to appreciate the stark beauty of the winter months. Being outdoors and appreciating nature, and getting some exercise along the way, will lift your spirits.

Read a good book

Give yourself permission to get lost in a good story.

Make and eat your favorite comfort food

"...from bowls. Preferably in bed under the duvet. With the electric blanket on." Amen.

Take up a craft or hobby

Learn something new or return to a creative project you've been putting off for a while.

Drink warm beverages

The joy of winter is seeing how many cups of hot chocolate you can drink.

Get cozy and all wrapped up in blankets

Being warm and comfortable is what hygge is all about.

Take time for meditation and reflection

Pause and breathe deeply to clear your mind and open your heart.

Surround yourself with beauty

It doesn't have to be anything fancy or expensive, but just making one corner of your surroundings a little prettier will lift your spirits.

Invite friends over for good food and connection

To really experience hygge, share the warmth with those who are closest to you.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.