One person who gave me a really helpful piece of advice is my mom.

She’s a professional obstetrician, so she’s always been very aware of health issues and daily habits. Since she lives in China and I’m currently living in Canada alone, she often worries about my health. Like many young people, I used to stay up late, eat junk food, and ignore my body’s signals.

One day, she sent me an article on WeChat about how bad it is to look at your phone after turning off the lights at night. The article said that it doesn’t just damage your eyes, but also disrupts your sleep quality. It explained that the light from your phone can block the release of melatonin, which tricks your brain into thinking it’s still daytime. As a result, your brain stays active, and you find it harder to fall into deep sleep.

What touched me most was when she shared a personal reason. She told me that my grandmother lost her eyesight before passing away due to cancer. That experience made my mom extremely sensitive about eye health, and now she really hopes that I can protect my vision and live a healthier life.

After hearing this, I decided to make some changes. I used to go to bed at midnight and then scroll on my phone for another hour, but now I try to turn off the lights and sleep at 11 p.m. sharp. Surprisingly, I noticed a big difference — I wake up feeling refreshed, and my eyes don’t feel dry or tired anymore. I can focus better during the day, and my productivity has improved a lot.

This simple piece of advice really changed my daily routine and made me more aware of the importance of sleep and eye care. So I’m very grateful to my mom. She’s not only a knowledgeable doctor but also someone who genuinely cares about me and my well-being.