Light and Rhythms

 

This week we are going to look at how light and rhythms affect our mind and body.

 

You’d be surprised to know that our body has is not exactly 24 hours. Estimates using experiments with people removed from any time cues have suggested times from just over 24 hours to 25 hours.[i]

Photo by daneger/iStock / Getty Images
Photo by daneger/iStock / Getty Images

 We use Zeitgeber (or time giver) to bring our body clock back inline.[ii] Two of the main Zeitgeber’s is light a

 

As you can imagine, our artificial lighting and heated houses can interfere with these cues and affect our body clock.

 

Before we had artificial lighting, Coulthard argues, we lived according to the sun. We woke when it rose and slept when it was dark. The light would change throughout the day from gentle at dawn, to harsh at midday and soft again at night. Temperature fluctuations also helped with the cooling at night providing us a cue to sleep.

Photo by evrim ertik/iStock / Getty Images
Photo by evrim ertik/iStock / Getty Images

 

So the answer is lots of natural light into our houses with big windows?

 

Yes and no. 

 

Coulthard argues that this would create too much heat and can be dazzling.

 

Instead she suggests:

  • Windows above eye-level to reduce glare, whilst still providing natural life,

  • Ledges or platforms under windows to bounce life into a room,

  • Skylights or light tunnels, and

  • Internal courtyards.

Photo by IPGGutenbergUKLtd/iStock / Getty Images
Photo by IPGGutenbergUKLtd/iStock / Getty Images

Additionally the following decorative features can help:

  • Lighter walls and floor,

  • Mirrors, and

  • Curtains as protection from street lights.

Photo by ArchiViz/iStock / Getty Images
Photo by ArchiViz/iStock / Getty Images

 

Lastly we can change our behaviour by,

  • Getting more daylight during the day by

  • Sitting next to the window,

  • Having lunch outside, or

  • Exercising outdoors.

We can also use the latest LED technology to change the colour of lights throughout the day to mimic the natural changes.

In general, you can use blue/cool lights during the day and red/warm ones at night.

We will look more into this next week.

 

Enjoy.

 



[i] https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/1999/07/human-biological-clock-set-back-an-hour/

[ii] https://www.verywellhealth.com/zeitgebers-and-how-they-work-3015395

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