Understanding the Effects of Blue Light

Blue light business consulting

Most businesses and schools have been using exclusive electronic means to work and communicate throughout this pandemic. While this has streamlined work and school, increasing your screen time (including your phone and TV) can have serious health effects if the right precautions aren’t followed. Aside from the most discussed negative of daily inactivity from sitting and working in front of a computer, another one of the biggest threats from computers is to your eyes. Blue light from technology can have one of the biggest impacts on your daily mood and performance.

Have you ever considered the health effects associated with staring at a computer screen? You may not know this yet but staring at a computer screen all day isn’t good for you. Generally speaking, staring at a computer screen will cause eye strain, eventually giving you computer vision syndrome or “digital eye strain.” This is due to computers and electronics having a special kind of light known as blue light. Furthermore, you may experience hormone changes resulting in loss of sleep or mood swings, macular degeneration (which is when the photoreceptor cells in your retina die), or even partial blindness which occurs when the retina is damaged.

What is Blue Light?

Blue light particles are extremely bright light particles that illuminate from almost all your technology’s screens. Once this blue light enters your eyes, the negative health effects mentioned above begin to take effect immediately. Recent research gives us a look at why some of these health effects might be happening. Dr. Ajith Karunarathne and her team conducted research by shining blue light particles into the retina and examining the results. They found that once the light interacts with the retina, it triggers a deadly chemical reaction that kills photoreceptor cells. Unlike some cells in our body, photoreceptor cells never grow back.

Although blue light molecules come with many negative health effects, your potential to damage your own health generally stems from two factors. First, how much time you spend in front of your screens. People who spend large amounts of time exposed to blue light have the highest risk for damage. Second, research shows that with age people begin to lose a naturally made molecule in the eye called Alpha Tocopherol. This molecule is an antioxidant in the body and eyes that helps prevent the cells from dying. Because of this, people of higher age are at a significantly higher risk for eye damage than those of a younger age.

How Do We Fix It?

After the discovery of how damaging blue light can be to your eyes and overall wellbeing, many doctors and glasses companies have started providing tips and engineering products to counteract the negative effects. Below, we listed some of the top products and tips for combatting harmful blue light molecules.

Blue light filtration glasses

Several members of the IA team swear by their blue light glasses! This helps with eye strain and headaches at the office.

Check these out from Amazon! Both Mary and Henry use these blue light filtering glasses while working.

Avoid electronic lighting before bed

Blue light keeps your brain awake and disrupts sleep, even long after you’ve ended electronic use.

Blue light phone screen filter

For those of you who love to work on the go (or for those of you who can’t resist using your phones before bedtime).

Rest your eyes

If you feel eye strain begin, give your eyes a rest. Most eye doctors recommend the 20-20-20 rule. For every 20 minutes looking at your computer or other blue light device, spend 20 seconds focusing on something 20 feet away.

Conclusion

With businesses and schools increasingly growing in online activity, it is important to consider some of the negative health effects that come with electronic use. Protect yourself, your team, and your children by implementing some of the solutions laid out in this blog! The health risks associated with blue light exposure are not worth it. It is important to treat all your body with the respect it deserves, including your eyes. Make sure that you are equipped with the knowledge and materials to combat the negative health effects of this upcoming age of technology.

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How to Mitigate Financial Risk Using the S.M.A.R.T. Management System

June 9, 2025

In an increasingly volatile economy, businesses cannot afford to be reactive when it comes to their finances. Whether you're a startup founder, a growing enterprise, or a seasoned business owner, the risk of financial instability is real—and growing. At IA Business Advisors, we help companies proactively navigate these risks using our comprehensive S.M.A.R.T. Management System . S.M.A.R.T. is more than just a goal-setting acronym. It is a decision-making and execution framework that brings clarity, structure, and alignment to every part of your business. From six-week action plans to one-year targets and long-term strategy, S.M.A.R.T. ensures your financial operations support healthy growth and resilience. Understanding Financial Risk in Today’s Business Climate Financial risk is multifaceted. It ranges from cash flow disruptions and market shifts to internal mismanagement and over-leveraged growth. As Brian Smith shared on a recent Daily Influence podcast episode, unchecked growth can drive a company into bankruptcy. Scaling without intention—chasing fast growth without aligning the internal team and financial resources—leads to diluted communication, quality issues, and operational chaos. Mitigating financial risk begins by understanding that more revenue doesn't always equal more stability. True sustainability comes from building systems that support intentional, well-paced growth. The S.M.A.R.T. Framework in Action: Reducing Financial Risk Our S.M.A.R.T. Management System guides businesses in creating resilient, financially stable operations through: 1. Specific: Build with Intentionality Clarity is power. One of our podcast guests, Mike Heatwole (CEO of The Dala Group), emphasized the importance of sitting down to define what matters most—whether that’s paying down debt, investing in growth, or launching a new venture. When your financial goals are specific, your strategy becomes targeted and less prone to reactive decision-making. “If we don’t know what the goal is, how do we get there?” — Mike Heatwole, CEO of The Dala Group 2. Measurable: Track What Matters Many companies are blindsided not by invisible risks, but by unmonitored ones. We help clients implement tools to track cash flow, margin fluctuations, and budget variances in real time. Visibility into your financial health gives you the power to respond early and course correct as needed. 3. Achievable: Assign Financial Stewardship Risk is reduced when financial responsibility is distributed. Through teamwide financial literacy and clear accountability, we empower organizations to make stronger daily decisions. No individual person should carry the entire burden—and no key area should go unmonitored. 4. Relevant: Make Risk Management a Habit Quarterly or biannual financial health check-ins create a sustainable rhythm. These don’t have to be complicated—they just need to be consistent. Regular reviews embed risk awareness into your company culture and decision-making process. 5. Timely: Foster Honest Dialogue Financial silence is a hidden threat. As Brian noted on the podcast, emotions like fear or shame can prevent businesses from facing financial realities. We encourage honest, blame-free communication around financial performance, creating space for solutions and collective action. Case in Point: Short-Term Action, Long-Term Impact One of our clients, a family-run distribution company, had strong revenue but was bleeding cash due to aging receivables. Together, we built a six-week S.M.A.R.T. Plan focused on accounts receivable recovery. We implemented weekly check-ins, assigned ownership, and used real-time tracking. Within 90 days, their outstanding A/R dropped by 22%, freeing up capital and restoring operational confidence. It’s Never Too Late to Get Financially Intentional Many leaders in their 40s, 50s, or 60s worry they’ve waited too long. But as Mike Heatwole wisely shared: “It’s never too late. Just get started. Do something.” Progress—not perfection—is the goal. Start small. Build momentum. Take the next best step. This mirrors a concept we love from The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan: measure progress based on how far you've come, not just how far you have to go. Final Thoughts: Make Financial Stability a Strategy Mitigating financial risk isn’t about a dramatic overhaul. It’s about consistent action, visibility, and intentional decision-making. With the S.M.A.R.T. Management System, IA Business Advisors helps businesses turn risk into clarity, fear into focus, and instability into opportunity. If you’re ready to start, we’re ready to help. Let’s have a conversation about what matters most to you—and build from there.

Enhancing Interpersonal Relationships for Toxic Workplace Recovery

May 29, 2025

Hello, team! Mary here, continuing our journey through the I in Team series, where we challenge and empower you to Find , Be , and Build Your Influence. One of the most common things we’re asked to help our clients with is toxic workplace recovery. This directly connects to the culture of the team, and while rebuilding that culture takes time and intention, it is absolutely possible. In fact, with the guidance of our I in Team approach and S.M.A.R.T. Management system, we’ve successfully helped more than 19,000 teams evolve into high-performing, values-based cultures. If you’re ready to take the lead and breathe life back into your team, we’re here and ready to support you. Practice Emotional Intelligence One of the most impactful steps you can take on your toxic workplace recovery journey is to practice emotional intelligence (the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both your own emotions and the emotions of those around you). Toxic environments are often the result of emotional disconnection, poor communication, unnecessary competition, and a culture that avoids constructive feedback. Begin by shifting your perspective: respond with empathy, ask thoughtful questions, and use “I” statements. These habits model two traits, emotional regulation and empathy, that influence how your team interacts and solves problems. Start small. For example, set a personal goal to give one piece of sincere praise or recognition per day. This is a S.M.A.R.T. goal, and it starts to reinforce positive emotional exchanges. Over time, this contributes to a psychologically safe environment where people feel seen and supported. Foster Open Communication Once emotional intelligence begins to take root, toxic workplace recovery is just around the corner. Open communication becomes more natural because when team members are aware of their own and others’ emotions, communication becomes seamless. The number one rule? Listen. Really listen. Without listening, communication is incomplete. Try implementing monthly influence partnerships—team pairings that rotate so members can get to know each other beyond surface-level roles. This creates connection and, when done with consistency (Timely), fosters trust across your team. Another way to build open communication is by creating a structured feedback loop. Clarify how and when feedback should be given—perhaps during weekly one-on-ones or monthly review meetings—and make sure all team members understand the difference between criticism and constructive feedback. S.M.A.R.T. feedback is Specific and Relevant, and when delivered with respect, it encourages team members to grow without fear. Lead by Example As we say throughout the I in Team series, everyone is a leader regardless of title. Whether you’re in the C-suite or just starting your first job, how you show up directly shapes the culture of your team. To begin, set some respectful boundaries rooted in your values. Let others know what you need to succeed and what behaviors support or disrupt your work. When disagreements arise, demonstrate what respectful disagreement looks like—calm, focused on solutions, and free from personal attacks. If your workplace has leaned into competition, shift the focus to collaboration. Collaborate on micro-goals, like shared tasks or cross-functional projects. Make the results Measurable and celebrate wins together (publicly, if possible). Consider S.M.A.R.T.-based team-building events (like problem-solving challenges or goal-setting workshops) to reinforce collaboration in a meaningful way. Final Thoughts Toxic workplace recovery starts with you. Every interaction, every word, every moment of listening is a chance to model what’s possible. Show up the way you want others to show up. If your team is struggling to rebuild or you need expert guidance, reach out . We’re here to help. Let’s keep influencing responsibly and positively together.