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Did you know? Light and sleep are connected! And with summer and its longer days, it can be sometimes hard to find your rhythm and to have a full and good night’s sleep. Discover how light can help you regulate your sleep cycle and learn how to optimize your use of smart lighting to help your sleep better by following our tips!
The Science Behind Light And Sleep
It’s proven, light has a reel impact on our ability to fall asleep. We all know this situation, where we scroll on our phones in bed instead of closing our eyes and trying to sleep. You’ll be glad to know that there is a scientific explanation behind this phenomenon, beyond the stimulation that our phones can provide.
You’ve probably heard of it—let’s talk about melatonin. It’s the hormone responsible for helping us fall asleep, right in Morpheus’ arms! The human body is quite impressive, as the release of this hormone is triggered by the darkness surrounding us. As opposed to strong light, like sunlight, that blocks melatonin production, making us daytime creatures! So, when we’re exposed to blue light from our smartphones or the late evening sunlight during long summer days, our melatonin production slows down, making it harder for us to fall asleep.
A bright light during the evening delays the hour during which we fall asleep, and thus, also delays when we wake up. And this becomes a vicious cycle. We can all picture the cliché of a teenager, going to bed very late (or early) after a night geeking in front of their computer, and waking up way after lunchtime!
It is then advised to adopt a routine where, when we want to settle down to fall asleep, we reduce our exposition to bright light, either coming from screens or lighting. And thanks to Smart Lighting, this couldn’t be easier!
How To Use Smart Lighting To Sleep Better
Smart Lighting is one of the lesser-known solutions for better regulating your sleep cycle. With options for dimming light intensity, such as those pre-programmed on SMART AND GREEN’s smart lights, you can get into the habit of dimming the light in your living space to signal to your body that it’s time to sleep and start producing melatonin! The smart technology in this type of lighting allows you to schedule events so that the brightness decreases automatically. The Smart And Green app even lets you set your lights according to sunset times, making it even easier for you! Just as it’s possible to program your lights for bedtime, it’s also possible to do the same for waking up! The app helps you start the day as you can schedule your lights to turn on to you wake up gently.
We also recommend to choose from warm and red lights, which help to fall asleep. In reality, lights that mimic the general atmosphere of sunset. When we tell you the human body’s impressive! However, the more a light is blue and cold, similar to screens’ light, the more it stimulates and improves vigilance and performance. Blue is the shade that blocks most of the melatonin production because it makes our body think it’s still daytime. An important fact to keep in mind for an office lighting, to boost productivity during the day for example, but to avoid at all costs for the evening!
Our Selection Of Smart Bedside Table Lights
At SMART AND GREEN, Smart Lighting is kind of our thing! Let us share with you a little list of table lamps that would work great on a bedside table!
- TUB, the little connected glass lamp.
- EGG, the egg-shaped light, with its soft curves.
- LAMPION, the table lamp inspired by Japanese lanterns.
Using smart LED bulbs for better sleep is a great solution for those who struggle with getting a good night’s sleep. Use the Smart And Green app to adjust and dim the light brightness during late hours, and choose warm, cozy shades to ensure melatonin production. Sleep tight!
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