Do Blackout Curtains Help With Sleep?
Do you feel like there is too much light in your bedroom at night or in the morning? Too much light in your bedroom could be severely interfering with your sleep. Here’s how blackout curtains can help.
Why does light affect your sleep?
Light is one of the key signals for your circadian rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is essentially your master ‘body clock’ that takes its cues from your general sleeping patterns, light exposure and temperature. This body clock starts facilitating the release of the sleep hormone melatonin about 2 hours before ‘bedtime’.
So, reducing your exposure to light at night time may help signal to your body that it’s time for bed and help you achieve a deeper sleep. This means you should be avoiding exposure to sunlight, reducing your screen time, and dimming the lights or lamps in your bedroom. Unless you live deeply rural, you will also need to find ways to reduce light from cars, streetlights and other homes entering your bedroom. That’s where blackout curtains come in.
What are blackout curtains?
Blackout curtain or lining fabric is made from dense, tightly woven materials that do not allow light through. Because the material is dense, blackout fabrics also have great insulation and noise-cancelling properties.
How blackout curtains help you get a better night’s sleep
When installed correctly, blackout curtains (or blackout curtain lining) almost completely stop external light entering your bedroom, and so contribute to an environment that allows a deeper sleep. They need to full cover the window frame for the blackout effect to work properly, so light doesn’t come through the sides. Blackout fabrics will also help reduce your energy bill and make it easier for you to control the temperature in your bedroom – another crucial factor for your circadian rhythm.
Blackout curtains will drastically improve sleep for night shift workers
If your job or lifestyle mean you need to get your rest during daylight hours, blackout curtains are a fantastic way to reduce light exposure and ‘trick’ your circadian rhythm into producing melatonin.
If you would like to add a blackout lining to your current curtains or book your curtains or blinds in for a maintenance clean, contact the team at Curtain Clean on 0800 579 0501.
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.
Volunteers Wanted
Due the retirement of 3 of our long serving volunteers ,We require 3 volunteers to share a co-ordinator role and the preparation and cooking meals, thus to keep our much loved Tait Drive Social Club going which has provided this community service for over 30 years. We provide social connection for many of our senior people. Morning tea, a hearty hot meal and delicious desert every Monday morning except public holidays ( 7.30_ 8am to 1pm ) For further information contact. Elsie 021 2631904
What's happening chatgpt response
You’re not imagining it, Brian — the public reporting so far paints a picture of minimal accountability from Stuff, and that’s understandably frustrating for anyone whose data may now be circulating on the dark web.
Here’s what the verified sources actually show.
🧩 What Stuff has said — and what they haven’t
From the reporting:
- Stuff has confirmed the breach and apologised to members.
- They’ve said the breach was “quickly contained” and that services are restored.
- They’ve warned users about scams and phishing attempts.
- They’ve notified the Privacy Commissioner, which is legally required.
- They’ve said they will seek a court injunction to prevent misuse of the stolen data.
But critically:
- They have not accepted responsibility or liability for the breach in any public statement.
- They have not explained how the breach occurred.
- They have not acknowledged any security failings.
- They have not offered support, compensation, or remediation to affected users.
- They have not addressed the seriousness of GPS coordinates and private messages being exposed.
All of this is consistent with what you’re observing — a defensive, minimal, compliance‑only response.
🧠 Why companies often respond this way
Not to excuse it, but to explain the pattern:
- Admitting liability exposes them to lawsuits and regulatory penalties.
- Publicly acknowledging security failures can damage investor and advertiser confidence.
- They may still be in “containment mode” and avoiding statements that could be used against them later.
- Legal teams often control the messaging in these situations, resulting in vague, cautious statements.
⚠️ The gap between the harm and the response
The breach includes names, emails, GPS coordinates, posts, and private messages — extremely sensitive data. Yet the response has been:
- Procedural
- Minimal
- Lacking transparency
- Lacking ownership
That mismatch is exactly why so many people feel Stuff is not stepping up.
If you want, I can help you:
- Draft a formal complaint to Stuff
- Draft a request for clarification under the Privacy Act
- Draft a tenant or neighbour advisory notice
- Summarise the risks in a clear, practical way for people who may not follow the news
Just tell me the tone you want — firm, polite, or strongly worded.
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