This is the second article in a 3-part series about being physically and mentally healthy at home.
A healthy sleep cycle is one of the body’s key defenses against illness. Manipulating the type of light you’re exposed to throughout the day can help keep your body’s internal clock on track, meaning you’ll get better, healthier sleep.
Ideally, a person’s sleep-wake cycle approximates the natural 24-hour dark-light cycle outside, but today’s lifestyle can make it difficult. Simulating outdoor lighting inside the home can help your body stay in sync with the sun’s daily pattern (Daylight Dusk and Sunset Night), so you’ll sleep better, when you’re supposed to. With a healthier sleep pattern, the body is better equipped to regulate hormones and neurotransmitters that manage brain function, mood, and stress.
Light is measured in multiple ways. Brightness is easy to understand. The color (or wavelength) of light is also important: Cool tones contain a lot of blue light, while warmer tones include yellow, amber, and red. Kitchens tend to have bright, cool lighting while living rooms and bedrooms have softer, warmer lights.
During the day, bright lights signal the body to stay awake. There’s an even better way to bring the light of day into your home (besides opening the blinds). A full-spectrum lightbulb emits equal parts of the entire visible color spectrum – cool and warm together – resembling a sunny day. This light works exceptionally well in a kitchen or home office.
Many light bulbs are labeled as “natural lighting,” but despite a neutral shade, they do not resemble the natural light of the sun. You can get a 4-pack of full-spectrum NorbSMILE lightbulbs, or, since they’re more expensive than traditional bulbs, you can try just one.
As the day grows later, the sun’s light becomes dimmer and warmer. As people gather in their living rooms for the evening, the softer, warmer light reminds your body and mind that night is coming.
An hour or so before bed, you can help your body shift even further into dusk with an orange light bulb, which can occupy one lamp. For people who like to read in bed, a typical reading light will flood your vision with blue light and disturb your sleep rhythm. This red light bulb is bright enough to read by but unobtrusive to a dark room, even if left on all night.
Finally, for nighttime trips to the bathroom or kitchen, protect your night vision and your sleep cycle. Lamps and ceiling lights can stay off while these amber GE night lights guide you around the dark house. The upcoming article explains how to keep your home’s air free of pollutants and unwanted smells.
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