The Benefits of Circadian Lighting as Fall Approaches Winter
Bring the Beauty and Well-Being of Daylight into Your Home
Daylight Saving Time (DST) has ended in most of the country. The good news is that we just received the gift of one extra hour. The bad news is that, as fall turns to winter, most of us in the U.S. will experience darkness when the late afternoon arrives. By December 21, the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year, Salt Lake City, UT, will have lost 5 hours and 51 minutes of daylight compared to the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in June.
Studies show that this human intervention has impacted our health, disturbing our circadian rhythms affected by light and darkness since our ancestors foraged, hunted, and lived outdoors. The American Medical Association is taking the stand that it's time to do away with switching our clocks and stick to standard time that aligns with the sun and our biology.
Here, we'll explore what the circadian rhythm is and how to realign this master clock with the help of circadian lighting.
SEE ALSO: The Art of Landscape Lighting in Salt Lake City
What Is the Circadian Rhythm?
In our brain is a master clock set by exposure to sunlight and darkness. The circadian rhythm is part of this internal time clock, a 24-hour cycle determining when our energy wanes and peaks. The morning light initiates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that enhances moods and restores energy. As night falls, the hormone melatonin surges, preparing us for sleep.
In addition to affecting our sleep-wake cycle, it also influences the body's blood pressure, heart rate, metabolism, and stress hormones, increasing the risk of disease when disturbed.
This rhythm gets out of sync with the diminishing daylight and our tendency to spend almost all our time indoors. We function at our best when our bodies and the sleep-wake cycle follow the sun.
What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
Some people are especially sensitive to less sunlight and shorter fall and winter days. For these people, it results in a type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder. The symptoms include changes in appetite, loss of interest in daily activities, and extreme lethargy.
What Is Circadian Lighting and How Does It Affect This Master Clock?
Circadian lighting is all about brighter days and darker nights, lighting that aligns with natural light and the rhythm of sunlight and darkness. Dynamic, tunable, advanced LED light fixtures combined with automated lighting control and sensors have made this possible.
This lighting emulates the sun's behavior, illuminating our homes in the early morning colors of sunrise before transitioning to the blue-white light of midday. This light enhances productivity, elevates moods, and increases mental alertness. When evening arrives, the lights transform into a soft, warm glow that reminds our bodies it's time to prepare for sleep. The result is an enhanced sense of well-being and beautiful, changeable lighting illuminating your home.
To learn more about creating a healthier, more beautiful home, contact Argenta today.
