Smart Bulbs: The Future Of Relaxation March 22, 2017 00:00

Stress is a killer.

We all know it, and we’ve all felt what it’s like when we have too much of it. In fact, Americans are reporting their stress levels are on the rise with over one-third of the population reporting increased stress in the past year alone.

What’s worse is the havoc too much daily stress can have on your body. From headaches and rashes to depression and heart disease, stress overload can give you a wide range of health problems (and the list goes on).

So, how can you fight off your overwhelming stress before it begins controlling your life?

Simple: by taking a minute to just relax.

Whether it’s at the end of a long shift at work or a quick fifteen minutes in the middle of your day, forcing yourself to relax is one of the best ways you can counteract stress’s harmful effects and give your body and mind some time to recoup.

And when it comes to relaxation, few things are as effective as the sensory immersion provided by smart bulbs.

But before getting into that, let’s take a closer look at how our body reacts to stress and how daily relaxation can help you.

Your body and stress

smart bulbs can relieve stress

Stress is one of those things that everyone wishes they didn’t have, right up there with mosquitoes and pimples.

But the truth is, if we never felt any stress we simply wouldn’t get anything done! After all, if you truly don’t have a care in the world then what’s to stop you from skipping work and never paying taxes again?

So, while we may hate feeling it, each of us actually needs at least some stress in our lives to keep us productive.

That being said, our bodies aren’t built to handle chronic stress. While short bursts can spur us into action, long bouts of stress can really do a number on our physical health, resulting in countless discomforts and even life threatening diseases.

Beyond that, regular relaxation can provide a host of benefits including higher productivity levels, better memory, increased alertness, and being a generally happier person!

Stress relief with sensory immersion

sensory immersion with smart light bulbs

So what’s the best way to relax in the hustle and bustle of the modern world?

That’s where sensory immersion comes in. By bathing your body’s audio and visual centers in soothing sounds and light, you give yourself over to relaxation more easily. That’s why spas and yoga retreats are often accompanied by serene decorations and lulling music: it makes it simpler to really let go.

Let’s take a quick look at the science here.

In a study by Penn State associate professor of bio-behavioral health Orfeu Buxton, researchers discovered that the mind is particularly good at relaxing with soothing sounds by comparing responses to abrupt threats (like alarm clocks) and gradual non-threats (like an approaching thunderstorm).


He found that gradual non-threats can be played almost twice as loud before getting the same response as abrupt threats. So, while you may wake up at even the slightest creak in the floorboards amidst the silence of the night, your mind can keep you relaxed enough to stay asleep even among crashes of waves, clamors of thunder, or the sharp chirps of birds.

Think of these types of sounds as a way to hack into our own minds and prime them for relaxation.

And the research doesn’t stop there.

There have been a wealth of studies on how simply looking at a relaxing picture, like that of a forest, can actually be quite effective at reducing stress and lowering the risk of depression. One study even showed that patients in intensive care could lessen their need for pain medication by looking at pictures of trees and water!

It seems, then, that one of the best ways to relax is to surround yourself with the perfect combination of light and sound…

Melt the stress away with smart bulbs

use smart bulb settings to create stress relieving scenes

Cue smart bulbs.

If you’ve had your finger on the pulse of the light bulb industry, you already know that you can set your high-quality smart bulbs to shine out over 16 million different colors, and even create custom schemes that transition from one hue to another.

But did you know that some smart bulbs like the Flux Smart Melody come with the ability to play music and soundscapes from your phone or tablet as well?

While these nifty features can be particularly useful when it comes to throwing a rockin’ get together, you can also use the speaker and color changing abilities to set the perfect mood for you to relax in.

Just imagine coming home from a long day at the office and taking a load off in your favorite chair by listening to the soothing sound of waves on a beach and bathing yourself in cool blue light.

Feel that stress melting away yet?

With a smart bulb in hand, the power to relieve stress whenever you want is right in your smart device. Happy relaxing!

Let us know what you think!

What have you found to be an especially great way to relax? Have you used smart lighting to help take a load off? Let us know in the comment section below and de-stress your life with the Flux Smart product line!