Bringing Natural Light into Your Home as Fall Turns to Winter

As summer turns to fall and the days grow shorter, our bodies attempt to adjust to the decreasing daylight. While the exact amount of daylight you lose depends on where you live, it’s astonishing to realize that from the first day of fall to the end of the year, many in Minnesota will experience over three hours of diminishing light. 

So, what does this reduced light do to our bodies? For many of us, decreasing sunlight disrupts the internal time clock known as the circadian rhythm. For those who are susceptible in St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN, lack of adequate sunshine can lead to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression associated with chemical changes occurring in the brain due to less daylight. 

Here, we’ll explore the circadian rhythm, how the body responds when it’s disrupted, and the lighting technology that can bring your body back into balance as the seasons change.

SEE ALSO: It’s Time for a Lutron Lighting System!

The Circadian Rhythm Defined

Your biological clock is directly affected by daylight. Sunlight entering your eyes tells your body it’s time to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with happiness, enhanced energy, and the ability to concentrate. With less natural light, your internal time clock, which regulates these hormones, as well as your mood and sleep-wake cycle, becomes imbalanced.

Symptoms Suggesting an Imbalanced Internal Biological Clock

SAD most commonly occurs in late fall, triggered by the changing seasons. Some symptoms associated with this disorder include sadness, oversleeping, reduced energy levels, weight gain, and loss of interest in activities that used to bring you joy. A mild version is known as the winter blues.

Less sun can also lead to a deficiency in vitamin D, an essential nutrient produced when sunlight touches your skin. Lack of vitamin D affects serotonin levels and your immune system. The result may be fatigue, coming down with more colds, increased anxiety, and a sense of sadness.

Enhancing Your Well-Being with Ketra Lighting

In addition to spending more time outdoors, you can significantly affect your environment by integrating Ketra lighting. This advanced dynamic LED lighting system brings natural light into your home, creating a sense of sunlight filling your rooms. 

It achieves this by mimicking the changing light of the sun. As dawn approaches, certain light fixtures slowly illuminate, simulating the same color and intensity of the rising sun. As it arcs across the sky, you’ll notice your lights transforming along with the natural light outside your windows. 

By midday, they take on a brighter white, blue-toned hue that increases energy and concentration. By day’s end, they’ve transitioned to a soft amber glow that tells your body it’s time to relax, increasing melatonin production, the hormone that helps you fall asleep. The result is a body coming back into balance, leading to increased energy, more restful sleep, and a greater feeling of contentment.

Are you ready to experience the enhanced well-being and beauty inherent in Ketra natural lighting systems? At Innovative Control Systems, we’re excited to share the ever-evolving lighting technology that enhances your home’s beauty while helping balance your body. To learn more about Ketra lighting or to schedule a complimentary consultation, contact Innovative Control Systems today.