What Is the Circadian Rhythm & How Can Lighting Control Help?

Sleep Better & Live Well with Help from Tunable Lighting  

Do you wake up feeling groggy each morning, hitting the snooze button until you’re running late? Do you rely on several cups of coffee to get through the day? And by nightfall, do you lie in bed with racing thoughts, unable to sleep?

If that sounds like your daily experience, your circadian rhythm may be out of sync. The circadian rhythm is the internal clock that tells our bodies when to feel alert, sleepy, and even hungry. Our circadian rhythms are self-regulated but are largely influenced by the sun.

So, what happens to our inner clock if we spend most of our time indoors? Artificial lighting can throw our sleep patterns off course, wreaking havoc on our health. Luckily, smart lighting control systems are transforming how we light our homes, leading to healthier lifestyles.

In this article, we’ll share how circadian lighting works, why it’s important, and how it will enhance your University Park, TX home. And if you’re interested in lighting control, contact Texadia Systems to get started on a new home system.

SEE ALSO: What Can A Lighting Designer Do for My Home?

What’s Wrong with Artificial Lighting?

“Sleep in modern humans is delayed from taking off the runway, which would naturally occur somewhere between eight and ten p.m.…Artificial light in modern societies thus tricks us into believing night is still day and does so using a physiological lie.”

–Why We Sleep, Matthew Walker

Matthew Walker is passionate about sleep and its dire condition in the modern era. Sleep deprivation can lead to every kind of health issue, including anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer.

Our sleep is heavily influenced by our circadian rhythm, or internal clock, which receives its cues from the sun. But since we spend most of our time indoors, we aren’t getting the correct signals. Artificial lighting can’t adequately replace sunlight because the brightness and color of incandescent and fluorescent lightbulbs are stagnant. After all, the sky in the early morning does not look the same as in the evening.  

So, if you’re using warm-tinted lamps during the day, they could make you feel sluggish and groggy. On the flipside, cool-toned lights at night may accidentally keep you up late. Thankfully, smart lighting offers a better solution.  

How Does Circadian Lighting Work?

If you’re like most modern folks, you can’t switch to spending the entire day outside. However, smart lighting systems by brands like Lutron are revolutionizing the ways we illuminate our homes.

Lighting control can automatically schedule your lights to shift their color temperature and brightness hour to hour.  In the morning, lights will shine brightly with a cool white tone. By afternoon, lights will soften to moderate white color. In the evening, your house should be set to warmer, dim lights, like a candle or campfire’s glow.  

You can adjust and activate your smart LEDs directly from the smart system app. Then, customize lights to your preferences and save personalized lighting scenes to relive over and over. With LEDs replicating natural sunlight, it should help your mind ease into a rhythm for better sleep and mental health.

Start Living Well with Circadian Lighting

Are you interested in bringing tunable lighting solutions to your Texas home? Connect with our smart home company to get started today!