Lighting plays a crucial role in regulating the human body’s sleep patterns, also known as circadian rhythms. The term ‘circadian’ originates from the Latin words ‘circa,’ meaning around, and ‘diem,’ meaning day. It describes physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle. These rhythms are primarily influenced by light and darkness in our environment.
The connection between light and sleep is deeply rooted in our evolutionary history. Before the advent of artificial lighting, humans relied heavily on natural sunlight to regulate their sleep-wake cycles. As dawn broke, the increase in light signaled the body to wake up while dusk indicated it was time to rest.
Today’s modern lifestyle often disrupts this natural cycle with artificial lighting after sundown and less exposure to natural daylight during work hours. This disruption can lead to various health issues such as insomnia or other sleep disorders.
Blue light emitted from electronic devices like smartphones, tablets, computers, televisions among others has been found particularly disruptive for good quality sleep. This type of light suppresses melatonin production – a hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle – more than any other form of light does.