Imagine what life was like before Mr. Edison concocted the crazy idea of an incandescent light bulb that illuminated our homes. Life was a lot darker then. Today, life is really, really bright, and not only from everyday lighting, but also from the multitude of screens that we use every day and night. All this lighting can make your circadian rhythms (you’re natural biological clock) a little messy. Fortunately, smart lighting has quite a few health benefits that can keep you feeling great around the clock.

Start your day off right.

You might be one of those early birds that has no problem waking up at the same time everyday, no matter what season it is. But many of us have vastly different wake up times in the summer (early rising with the sun and chirping birds) than in the winter (sluggish start in those dark mornings.) Fortunately with smart lighting, you can program your lights to come on slowly to simulate dawn. Scientific studies back this method because the slow light release has a better effect on melatonin and cortisol – your body’s chemicals that help regulate sleep and energy levels.

Use selective and spot lighting to reduce eyestrain and fatigue.

An overhead light can really only do so much—it provides basic ambient lighting so you aren’t tripping over things, but doesn’t necessarily help with tasks. You can reduce headaches and eyestrain by installing task lighting in kitchens, offices, craft rooms—anywhere you need to focus more intently. Automated lighting makes it really easy to program the lights for particular activities. For instance, with a home automation system like Control4, you can simply tap a “Cooking” button that turns on under-cabinet lights and ramps up the kitchen pendants and cans to 100% illumination so you can see clearly while prepping and cooking food.

Have a safer home environment with fewer falls.

The Center for Disease Control cites that over 700,000 hospitalizations occur each year due to falls inside the home, and that 20% of those falls are attributed to having inadequate lighting. With smart lighting, if you’ve got a phone (and now even voice-controlled systems) then you have complete control over your home’s lighting. That means when you hear a sudden noise in the night, you can tap your phone instead of getting up to turn on the lights. Or when you’re entering your home with an armload of groceries, you can tell your voice activated system to “turn on entry lights”, hands free.

Have better security, lowered anxiety

When you feel safe and secure in your home, you have lower anxiety, and smart lighting can be an integral part of your security system in your home. You can set up motion detectors, or timed lighting responses to deter intruders. Furthermore, when you leave for vacation, there’s no need to worry whether you left any lights on (or off). Just use your phone to control your lighting from wherever you are.

Wind down right at night.

Much like waking up in the morning, our bodies take time to wind down in the evening and prepare for a night’s sleep. Neuroscientists have also discovered that our screen addiction (hours upon hours of looking at computers, tablets and smart phones) can affect our sleep. In fact, as little as two hours of pre-bedtime screen use can impact your body’s melatonin production – the stuff that helps you sleep. By creating and using a “Goodnight Setting” for your home and your devices, you can ensure that you wind down properly before going to bed. And with that, comes a better night’s sleep—something that many of us can use.

A well lit home feels wonderful, but smart lighting is not just a pretty glow. It can also be a healthy asset to your home. We specialize in Control4 home automations that can include lighting so you can feel good 24 hours a day.

Home Systems Solutions takes pride in being Central Oregon’s leader in smart home automation, theater and entertainment. Contact us to visit our Bend showroom or get an initial consultation. Email us or call 541-610-7915 for more information.