Have you ever found yourself squinting at your screen while working late into the night or struggling to find your way in the dark without disturbing your partner? Well, Apple introduced a clever feature in macOS Catalina called Sidecar Night Light that might just be the solution to your nighttime screen woes.
Sidecar, initially designed to extend your Mac's display to your iPad, now comes with an added functionality that aims to reduce eye strain and improve your nighttime computing experience. The Sidecar Night Light feature essentially acts as a blue light filter, which is known to interfere with our sleep patterns and cause eye discomfort.
By enabling the Sidecar Night Light feature, your Mac's screen will adopt a warmer color temperature, shifting away from the harsh blue light emitted by electronic screens. This can help alleviate eye strain and potentially improve your overall sleep quality, especially if you tend to work late into the night or use your Mac in dimly lit environments.
To activate the Sidecar Night Light feature, follow these simple steps:
1. Ensure your Mac and iPad are connected via Sidecar.
2. Open System Preferences on your Mac.
3. Click on the Displays tab.
4. Select the Sidecar tab.
5. Toggle the Night Light option to on.
Once enabled, you'll notice a subtle but significant difference in the color temperature of your Mac's display. It's a small tweak that can make a big impact on your nighttime screen usage.
Moreover, if you're concerned about the effects of blue light exposure on your eyes or sleep patterns, the Sidecar Night Light feature can be a practical and effective solution without the need for third-party software or additional accessories.
Additionally, this feature can be particularly handy for those who share a workspace or bedroom with someone else. The warmer color temperature of your Mac's screen can minimize the disturbance caused by bright blue light, allowing you to work or browse without disrupting your partner's sleep.
While the Sidecar Night Light feature doesn't completely eliminate blue light exposure, it does offer a more comfortable alternative for nighttime computing sessions. Combined with other best practices like taking regular breaks and adjusting your screen brightness, integrating this feature into your workflow can contribute to healthier screen habits.
So, the next time you find yourself burning the midnight oil on your Mac, consider giving the Sidecar Night Light feature a try. Your eyes and your sleep schedule might just thank you for it.