By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    photo of hands with blue veins
    8 Proven Tips on Finding Difficult Veins
    November 12, 2021
    tips for getting over the pandemic blues
    4 Proven Ways to Get Over the Pandemic Blues
    February 22, 2022
    medical industry innovations
    How is CNC Machining Transforming the Medical Industry?
    June 2, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Doctors on Google: Manhattan Research Survey 2012
    July 23, 2012
    HealthCare’s Need for Transparency Goes Far Beyond Pricing
    December 10, 2012
    Medicare Payments to Providers Are Carved, Sliced and Chopped by Sequestration
    March 25, 2013
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Light Affects Your Health (And What to Do About It)
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Specialties > How Light Affects Your Health (And What to Do About It)
Specialties

How Light Affects Your Health (And What to Do About It)

Kristel Staci
Last updated: April 27, 2021 7:55 pm
Kristel Staci
Share
5 Min Read
light exposure and its role in health
Shutterstock Photo License - By Ian Reay
SHARE

We humans are pretty durable overall, but we can also be severely affected by things as minor as shifting light levels throughout the seasons. Indeed, light can dramatically impact our health, both positively and negatively. Artificial light can also have some very different impacts on our health than natural light.

Contents
Effects of Lighting on HealthHow to Solve Lighting Problems for Better HealthInstall Circadian LightingInvest in More Windows for Natural LightUse Screens Less – Especially Before Bed!

Is your current lifestyle causing negative health effects due to lighting decisions or intensity levels? Let’s break down what you can do about it to see better health results in the future.

Effects of Lighting on Health

Remember, humans evolved in the wilds of Africa and were exposed to natural light all day and night. So it’s no surprise that light exposure and light levels can have intense effects on our health via the circadian rhythm. In total, lighting can affect you by:

  • Altering your mood. Chances are you’ve experienced a simple example of this as seasonal affective disorder, which kicks in for many people during the winter months when there is less sunlight. Indeed, if we don’t get enough natural sunlight (specifically “blue” light, or light most common to the morning hours) we can feel depressed, irritable, and more. This can be even more problematic during the pandemic, which is why changing light might be necessary to help with your mood during it.
  • Making it difficult to sleep, which itself leads to a host of health problems. Many of our electronic devices emit blue light, which can trick our brains into thinking it’s morning and make it difficult to sleep. This, in turn, can cause irritability, fatigue, and even deeper mental health problems in the future
  • Changing your attention span or focus. It’s a lot easier to get into an accident or make a big mistake at work if you’re tired, and that can easily happen thanks to artificial lighting, which we expose ourselves to for many hours of each day

Unfortunately, many of us are far too familiar with these problems. Lots of us spend most of our time indoors, preventing our energy levels from adjusting with the rising and setting of the sun. Many more of us also practice daylight savings time, which throws off our circadian rhythms twice per year.

More Read

Important Early Pregnancy Signs To Be Aware Of
Eight Important Ways to Avoid Diabetes Complications
6 Things Your Dentist Wishes You Knew About Oral Health
Custom Lens Replacement: A Modern Vision Solution
National Alzheimer’s Plan Presented

How to Solve Lighting Problems for Better Health

As you can see, there are lots of issues with the way we currently deal with lighting in our lives. There is no getting around the fact that light impacts our health. Fortunately, there are ways you can tackle these problems and solve lighting issues in your own home to improve your health.

Install Circadian Lighting

For starters, you can install circadian lighting throughout your home. Circadian lights utilize special LEDs or tunable lights that can adjust their intensity or color to follow the natural pattern of the day.

Install some circadian lights, and your body will adjust naturally to the setting of the sun, even if you don’t take a single step outside. You’ll feel better, fall asleep more easily, and have more energy throughout the day.

Interested in learning more? Check out some of these podcasts focused on circadian lighting for more information.

Invest in More Windows for Natural Light

You can also undergo some home renovations and install windows that allow more natural light into your home. The more natural light you expose your body to, the more vitamin D you’ll get and the more likely it is that you’ll be able to fall asleep when the time comes in the evening.

Plus, windows that let in plenty of natural light are aesthetically pleasing and can add significant resale value to your home!

Use Screens Less – Especially Before Bed!

Lastly, do yourself a favor and put down the phone or tablet about an hour before bed. As mentioned, electronic devices emit blue light and can make it really tough to sleep, as the blue light triggers our brains to release awakening hormones: the same kinds we feel when we wake up in the morning.

Put down your screens and read a book instead. Your brain will be relaxed and you’ll fall asleep with enough time so that you wake up with plenty of energy in the morning.

TAGGED:health effectslight exposurenatural light
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Recommended Vaccines for Seniors

October 11, 2012

Global Size and Growth of Spine Surgery Market Segments

July 7, 2011
Disability
Policy & LawSpecialties

Disability Cases Explained: Fully Favorable Vs Partially Favorable

May 18, 2020
BusinessGeriatrics

Hallmark Please Create Hospice Cards

February 11, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?