Energize Yourself With Smart Lighting Dawn Simulation June 21, 2017 00:00

Sleep – it’s absolutely essential for our day-to-day functions and yet a whopping number of Americans have trouble getting enough or simply aren’t doing it right.

In fact, a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that more than one third of adults don’t get the sleep they need. That’s 33%!

It’s no wonder then that so many people feel groggy throughout the working day.

Just think about it: when was the last time you can remember feeling alert and energized all day long? No 2 p.m. crash, no double-digit cups of coffee, and no wishing you could close your eyes for just a few more minutes.

Can’t remember? Well don’t worry – you’re not alone.

While taking the steps to get the sleep you need (in terms of both quantity AND quality) tonight is essential to getting more pep in your step tomorrow, there’s another factor at play here. And it’s undoubtedly contributing to your extended fatigue, inability to concentrate, and sour mood.

So, what is it? Your alarm clock!

There’s no sound more grating than the harsh buzz of your alarm and, as it turns out, it could be playing a huge role in how tired you feel throughout the day.

Unfortunately, most of us can’t toss our alarms (no matter how much we want to).

That’s where wake-up light alarm clocks come in!

This is your body on sleep

Before we get into how these amazing new alarm clocks work, let’s first take a look at what happens to our bodies when we’re sleeping, and how they react to waking up.

First off, the process of sleep is largely brought about by boosted production of a hormone called melatonin. You may have heard of it before, especially since it’s recently become a popular sleep aid since it has fewer side effects than stronger prescriptions like Ambien.

This hormone is naturally produced by the body in a small area of the brain called the pineal gland and, once distributed, tends to make your body sleepy and groggy. The more melatonin you have in your system, the closer you get to curling up wherever you may be and calling it a night.

Once the morning rolls around, our bodies gradually curb melatonin production. The lack of this sleepy hormone (along with the boost of other bodily chemicals) helps to rouse you from your sleep and prepare your body for the day ahead.

What’s wrong with how we wake up today?

The problem now is that our bodies are built to react to the day/night cycle. In fact, the production of melatonin is directly controlled by the amount of light our eyes detect, even when our eyelids are closed.

But just because our bodies are wired to get sleepy at night time and energized at sunrise doesn’t mean that schedule lines up with our modern responsibilities. Actually, you’d be hard pressed to find any worker who doesn’t get up in the dark morning hours in some parts of the world.

That’s where the typical alarm clock comes in. Without it’s aggravating tones to shake us awake, many of us wouldn’t get to work on time.

This, of course, comes with some drawbacks.

First, starting our days before our body stops the production of melatonin makes it much harder to get going in the morning. And if you’re like most people and wake up at a later time on the weekend, you’re probably experiencing what researchers refer to as “social jet lag” which can come with some nasty health side effects.

What’s more, the more suddenly you’re awakened in the morning, the longer and more severe your “sleep inertia” will be. This period, described as the time between waking up and being fully mentally awake, is characterized by feelings of grogginess and moodiness as well as decreased memory, reaction time, and alertness.

The important takeaway here is that both of these effects aren’t caused necessarily by how long you sleep, but rather by how you are ultimately woken up!

Think of those wonderful weekend mornings where, instead of jumping out of bed at the shriek of your alarm clock, you get to wake up naturally and gradually. Don’t you feel so much happier and energized throughout the day?

That’s because you’re waking up the way you’re meant to!

But, like we said, you can’t just throw away your alarm clock. What are you supposed to do then?

The benefits of dawn simulation alarm clocks

Enter dawn simulators, the hero of the modern waking world!

These ingenious devices use gradual illumination to prep your body for the day rather than just the screeching cacophony of an everyday alarm.

It works like a normal alarm clock except as your wakeup time gets close, the clock begins emitting a soft glow that gradually increases, brightening up your room little by little.

As your closed eyes detect the growing light, you’ll gently be woken up over time rather than all at once, giving your body the time it needs to slow down melatonin production and get you ready for the day.

What could that mean for you? Less groggy mornings, no more snooze button, better mood and concentration in the mornings, and higher energy levels throughout your day.

With these alarm clocks being the clearly superior choice for anyone looking to improve how they feel during the day, the only question now is what can you do with all that extra energy?

Energize your day with smart bulbs 

How would cutting back on your daily fatigue change how you spend your day? Do you have any other energizing tips to add? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to check out the Flux Smart products to add some pep in your step!