How Improper Lighting Is Affecting Your Health in Ways You Didn’t Even Realize
September is Healthy Living Month. It’s probably not a huge surprise to you that lighting plays a monumental role in our mental and emotional health.
What light does for our body
Light is key to keeping our circadian rhythm at its best. Maybe you’re wondering, what the heck is a circadian rhythm? It’s just a fancy schmancy name for our “internal clock”, aka the sleep-wake cycle.
Not only does proper, more natural lighting allow for better sleep, but it also
- keeps you safe and alert,
- helps you avoid eye strain and headaches, and
- is necessary for the nervous and endocrine systems (hormones, mood, etc.).
In a recent seminar, Mark S. Rea, PhD, from the Mount Sinai Light and Health Research Center, clarified that health benefits aren’t simply due to light’s wavelength but also to its contrast or brightness.
Research has determined that “lighting schemes” (mimicking a normal day) decrease aggression and sundowning in patients with Alzheimer’s. Studies between 1985 and 2024 about prison lighting all conclude that appropriate illumination reduces aggression and improves rehabilitation rates.
You may be astounded to learn that dim and improper lighting can even result in greater food consumption and weight gain. (Why do you think they make it so hard to see that veal scallopini, after all?)
The infamous blue light
Recently, we’ve been hearing more about the connection between lighting and our overall well being thanks to research about blue light emitted from our screens. Studies show that the unnatural, artificial blue wavelengths during evening hours are having grim results on our minds and bodies.
Blue light blocks melatonin, which is a necessary hormone signalling our body, “hey, you, get that head on the pillow and rev up those snores”. Lack of sleep is just one consequence of excessive blue light. Others include the increased possibility of depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular issues.
How does it work?
Light travels in waves. These waves are shorter depending on the type—for instance, microwaves, infrared, and radio waves have the longest as opposed to x-rays and gamma rays. The shorter the wave, the more energy it transmits, and more energetic light waves have the most detrimental effect on our bodies.
Blue light is one of the shortest.
“In fact, they’re only slightly longer and less powerful than UV waves, which are too short for people to see with the naked eye. Health experts have warned against the harmful effects of UV rays, which can damage your skin and your eyes,” explains writer, editor, and educator Rebecca Joy Stanborough.
What’s the answer?
Many best practices will help you avoid physical, mental, and emotional distress.
- Use dim, red lights as nightlights.
- Avoid screens 2-3 hours before bed. Sure, it’s difficult to put Facebook down right when you finally have a few moments to check out Taylor Swift’s engagement ring. But it may mean getting necessary REM sleep and not waking up at 3am.
- Buy blue-blocking glasses. Most optometrists now offer special blue coating on your eyeglasses for a minimal fee.
- “Sunlight before screen light,” advises neuroscientist Andrew Huberman. Just a few minutes facing east improves energy, sleep levels, and your immune system.
- Have Balaklava create lighting schemes and automate your lighting. You won’t even have to think about it anymore.
Here’s to Healthy Living Month. May it be a happy—and a bright—one.
