Light up your circadian rhythm

Always tired?

You’re going to bed early, eating healthy, drinking water, exercising… doing all the things recommended to be healthy and energized. But you just don’t feel rested when you wake up. That afternoon slump hits hard, yet you catch a second wind around the time you should be winding down for bed. What’s missing? Well, the answer could be right over your head.

Solar powered people

Studies have shown that certain temperatures of light can affect our brain’s ability to wind down at night. This is all because of our circadian rhythm - essentially our body’s internal clock. This biological clock located in our brain controls and regulates a variety of things, like our hormones, sleep/wake cycles, and even our digestion and body temperature. Our circadian rhythms are largely impacted by the sun and other light sources.

When our bodies are exposed to darkness, that signals the production of a hormone called melatonin, or our “sleepy hormone”. Our biological clock takes the presence of melatonin as an indication that it is night time, and our body starts preparing for sleep. In the morning, when we are exposed to light, melatonin gets suppressed. Our biological clock perceives that it’s daytime, and we feel energized after a good night’s rest. As incredible as this whole process is, modern technology has created a potential problem - our body can’t distinguish between natural sunlight and artificial light.

Illuminating the problem

Being exposed to bright, blueish light in the evening can mix up the signals and actually reset our circadian clock. The result? Poor sleep, and the midday slump. That’s why more smart lighting systems are beginning to incorporate a color shifting technology that actually mimics the natural cycle of the sun, even tuned to your geolocation. Numerous studies have shown this to be beneficial for more productive work during the day - especially in areas or times of the year when there is limited daylight - as well as a more restful night. 

What do you think? Does your lighting support your circadian rhythms? To learn more about our circadian rhythm lighting systems, click here.