With the recent switch to Daylight Savings Time, have you noticed how having more light at nighttime is changing your behavior? For instance, you may be eating dinner later or going to bed later since we have more daylight hours now. The reason for this is that your body’s internal clock – controlled by your circadian rhythms – is affected by light more than any other factor.
Our bodies have a natural clock that is governed by our circadian rhythms over a 24-hour time period. LED commercial lighting wholesale is why we feel energetic at certain times of the day and lethargic at other times. Circadian rhythms also impact body temperature, mental alertness and physical strength.
Light is the single greatest factor that impacts our circadian rhythms; it controls our daily sleep and awake cycles. Disrupting these patterns can lead to poor or difficult sleep – which is why we have such a difficult time waking up when it’s still dark outside.
“Studies have shown that light affects sleep habits, depression and mental functions,” says Terry McGowan, FIES, LC, director of engineering and technology for American Lighting Association and owner of Cleveland, Ohio-based Lighting Ideas. “The term ‘healthy lighting’ has been used to indicate that light can act like a drug where the strength, timing and type of light can be used to alleviate problems and enhance well-being. The ‘prescription’ is simple: People need bright days and dark nights that match the natural day/night circadian cycle.”
In fact, the healthiest way to stimulate your circadian rhythms is by exposing yourself to bright daytime light, says Fred Oberkircher, FIESNA, Educational IALD, IDA, LC, and emeritus associate professor for Texas Christian University.
“It needs to be bright enough that you get a significant amount of light into your eyes, which is good for your circadian rhythms,” Oberkircher adds. “At night, when you want to keep lighting to a minimum, it’s a good idea to use controls such as dimmers. In this way, you can customize the lighting to fit your natural circadian rhythm.”
Something else to keep in mind: As people age, it becomes harder for them to adapt to changes in the amount of light to which they’re exposed.
“Older people’s sleep and wake cycles are harder to maintain if they are not exposed to daylight early in the day and sleep in a dark room at night,” McGowan says. “Even the color of the LED commercial lighting wholesale is important. The human circadian system is more sensitive to the blue portion of the spectrum than other colors, so it may be beneficial to limit the blue content of lights used for illumination during the evening.”
The bluer the light, the greater the stimulation to our circadian rhythms, Oberkircher says. “Your circadian system is quite biased to blue light – so exposing yourself to blue light at night will delay your sleep,” he adds. “The blue light will suppress melatonin in your system and make you more alert. So it’s best to limit your evening lighting to warmer-colored light.”
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