The expectations of the modern professional life and of the lifestyle are preventing most people from experiencing natural sunrises, sunsets as well as the so important blue light of the morning sky. Consequently, our sleep-wake-rhythm and our vital energy are affected. This fact is having a similar negative effect like a jetlag.
Ok, it might be impossible to fall asleep and wake up analogous to the course of the sun or to get sufficient pleasant morning-light. But, modern light technology is rebuilding natural light as far as possible to positively influence sleep, awakening, mood as well as our level of vital energy during the day.
We are not able to change our living-, working- and especially our sleeping-plans overnight but we can use technology to naturally shape our falling asleep and waking up. Philips for example has developed a new alarm clock that re-shapes a near-natural sunrise in your bed room. The “Wake-up Light” (WUL) supports the body’s natural transition periods from sleep into wakefulness.
In wake-up-mode, the light-alarm continuously gets brighter. The process starts before the actual wake-up-time. Complete brightness of the wake-up-light is reached at the actual wake-up-time. This enables relaxed waking up in a pleasantly lit room. Studies with WUL show a better ability to wake up. On the other hand, with the falling asleep or sunset-mode the Wake-up Light gradually dims the light and prepares the inner clock for sleep. The sunset-mode allows a natural transition from wakefulness to sleep.