- Q. Are you ever tired? Ever wake up tired? Have that mid-afternoon lull? Go to bed tired?
- A. You probably need a Purple Break.
What’s a Purple Break? A Purple Break is a unique technique that my father, Ken Baldridge, developed to restore energy and ignite action.
Dad was in a sleep study in the 1960s where he was instructed to sleep in a room in total darkness for three months. During the day, he could work as he usually did, but as part of the study, thick black drapes were put on the windows of his bedroom so he could sleep in total darkness.
He noticed, gradually, over time, that he was feeling more energetic and less fatigued. He wondered why. He learned that there is a protein in your eyes called rhodopsin, also called visual purple, known to break down in bright light, which causes fatigue. It is restored by total darkness. (For more information about rhodopsin and fatigue on the job, see the Appendix.)
After the study was complete, he found he only needed to sleep three to five hours a night and felt terrific! But as he began traveling to colleges to speak and meet with his clients (he was the founder of the Baldridge Reading and Study Strategy programs) he noticed that he needed more and more sleep. As a dynamic educator and driven entrepreneur, this was frustrating to him.
He realized that the reason he required more sleep was because he was sleeping in hotels where the exterior light could stream through curtains that were thin. Also, there were other light sources in the room that interfered with the restoration of his visual purple, such as a glowing alarm clock, fire alarm light, etc. So he decided to wear an eye shield at night to block out the light, and during the day create a totally dark environment by covering his eyes, four to six times a day, for a few minutes each time, to restore the visual purple.
By doing this he felt more energetic.
He originally called this rest break “visual purple restoration” and taught it to college freshmen to help them study better, especially when cramming before exams. But the name was too long to remember, so he shortened it to Purple Break.
For the last 40 years of his life, my dad required only three to five hours of sleep and had lots of energy.
Give it a try to see how it can work for you.
Grab your phone. Set the alarm for 60 seconds. Now cover your eyes, relax, and breathe. Count backward from 15 to 1 on each breath. For example: Say 15, then exhale, say 14 and exhale. Remember to relax your shoulders and jaw, as they are tension holders. Also, when you reach the number 1, keep your eyes closed and slowly remove your hands. See whether you notice an intense brightness from removing your hands. That brightness is diminishing your rhodopsin.
Ready for your Purple Break experience? Great! Then put this book down, start your timer, and enjoy!
How do you feel? Did you notice the brightness when you were finished and removed your hands from your eyes?
The bright lights in your day, such as sunlight, glowing computer screens, and fluorescent lights wear you down all day long.
One challenge with the Purple Break is that it is not socially acceptable to have your head in your hands. The body language could cause some to think you are upset. If you choose to use this precious Joy Gem, it is best to do it in a discrete place such as a rest room or empty conference room, or office. It is the first Joy Gem in this book because it will refresh you to absorb the other “Golden Nuggets” better.
I once was driving and was so tired I couldn’t remember how long it had been since my last blink, which scared me. Has that ever happened to you? So I pulled over on the side of the parkway in a safe area to take a Purple Break. Head in hands, a few minutes later a knock on the window of my car startled me. I looked up and it was a police officer. I opened the window. He said, “Is everything OK?”
I said, “Yes, officer. I’m just taking a Purple Break.”
He looked at me suspiciously and said, “And I have a line for you to walk.”
Oh no! I thought. So I asked him, “Are you ever tired, Officer?”
He answered, “Yes. I’m tired now.”
I went on to ask, “Did you know you have a protein in your eye called rhodopsin that breaks down in bright light and is restored in total darkness?” He did not. Net/net: I didn’t have to walk the line. Moral of the story. Be careful where you take your Purple Breaks, but be sure to take them. They are life savers in so many ways.
Take Action!
- Figure out where, when, and how you can take Purple Breaks in your day.
- Look for light sources where you sleep. Minimize/Eliminate.
- Get an eye shield and wear it.
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Rejuvenate and celebrate!
Ken Baldridge, founder and co-director, Baldridge Reading Inc.
P.S. Rest works wonders!
