With that said: Being natural and goofy can get very close and this is IMHO – totally goofy. I stumbled here as I was looking for some paleo articles to post on G+ as I have paleo folk in my family. Wonderful articles on Salt and Lard elsewhere on you site – and I look forward to reading more. I don’t know if I’ve noticed a significant difference in my energy during the rest of the day, but it is drastically easier for me to get out of bed.ĭo you use a wake up light? What is your experience? Most importantly, I feel much more rested in the morning.I usually wake up with the gradual light, but I use the soothing alarm sounds as a “back up.” The wake up sounds gradually increase in volume and are very gentle, unlike a beeping alarm clock.Now, I awaken later in the stages of the simulation. (For example, if you set the alarm for 7:30 the sunrise starts at 7:15). I have the sunrise simulation set for 15 minutes, and it peaks at the time which you set the alarm. For the first couple of days, I awoke at the dim light of the sunrise simulation.First and foremost, I have no more morning heart attacks from my blaring alarm clock.I am a lifelong convert to my Philips wake up light (if you missed the link above, I have this version). I’ll turn it on the brightest setting and sit by it for 20ish minutes while I read or work. My wake up light doubles as my Happy Lamp in the long, grey days of Seattle winters. This may make a wake up light more valuable during the dark months of winter, rather than summer. Studies suggest that dawn stimulation may be an effective treatment for seasonal affective disorder ( source, source). Light therapy has been heavily studied as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder. A wake up light may help depression and seasonal affective disorder Studies show that exposure to dawn stimulation in the morning supports better melatonin balance throughout the day ( source, source). However, tweaking your light exposure is a powerful way to balance melatonin. I’m not a fan of using melatonin supplements, since they can really mess with overall hormone balance. A light-responsive hormone, melatonin levels should follow an opposite pattern of cortisol – that is, lowest in the morning and peaking at night. This is frequently referred to as adrenal fatigue (a currently vogue diagnosis but something which is very real).ĭo you experience debilitating grogginess in the morning? Do you rely on caffeine to get you going? Those symptoms often point to low morning cortisol.Įxposure to daylight in the morning via a wake up light can support that morning cortisol peak, which in turn supports a healthy cortisol response throughout the entire day ( source, source). And because all hormones are intricately tied together, balanced cortisol means better overall hormone balance. Cortisol levels should follow a circadian rhythm, peaking in the morning and gradually decreasing over the day. Chronic stress causes irregular cortisol spikes, eventually depleting cortisol production.

Light significantly influences cortisol levels.

A wake up light supports morning cortisol response By replicating sunrise, you can support balanced hormones and a healthy circadian rhythm. By manipulating the light in your bedroom to mimic the light cycles of the moon, you can help re-align your menstrual cycle with the moon’s cycle to support hormone balance and fertility.Ī wake up light follows a similar concept. You may have read my post on Lunaception, where I explain how light can shape and balance menstrual cycles. Daylight is another way in which nature shapes our wellbeing. For example, earthing – getting skin-to-earth connection – has been shown to reduce stress hormones. I believe the human body is intrinsically tied to the rhythms of the earth. Now, we have more and more research showing exactly how these rhythms influence our health. The wake up light that I use is the Philips Wake Up Light with Sunrise Simulation, which I got here from Amazon. The gradual light – a type of artificial daylight – gently pulls you out of slumber and can support healthier hormone balance throughout the day. I’ve used it for a good three weeks now and am eager to share my experience with my alarm replacement.Ī wake up light produces an artificial dawn, also called dawn simulation, to wake you up in the morning. A few weeks ago, I shared on Facebook that I was trying a wake up light for the first time.

Natural wake up time