Consumers and businesses alike look to prioritise sleep in an always-on world
Sleep has become a booming business, however, it is the one human function that has an air of mystery surrounding it, why exactly do we need to sleep? And what goes on in our brain when we do sleep? We spend a third of our lives doing it and yet there still isn’t concrete answers to these questions. It is however known that a good night’s sleep leads to increased productivity and alertness.
The modern Western world is rebelling against our natural desire to wind down and get a good night’s sleep, it has been developed to be always ‘on’, modern distractions, entertainment, work, technology and devices consume more of our time leaving less time for slumber. This has caused a whole host of health problems, both physical and mental. There is a sleep epidemic. Experts are even advising doctors to prescribe sleep to help aid with various conditions.
As work encroaches upon leisure time, especially at the moment when many are working from home, it becomes harder to ‘switch off’ and recharge, meaning many of us are getting less sleep and less quality sleep.
As a result, there is now increasing demand for products and technologies that help improve our sleep, counteracting the pressures of a 24-hour society.
While around a third of global consumers say that they avoid using technology just before they go to bed because it disrupts their sleep, nearly half said they do not.
Sleep is being rebranded: clean sleeping = the new clean eating.
For many years a lack of sleep was glorified, it was seen as a positive to overwork – a badge of honour, a proof of productivity and hard work. However, today the detrimental effects of a lack of sleep are understood. It is predicted that in the next 3-5 years this focus on ‘clean sleeping’ will grow, it will be viewed as essential to maintain good health. Smart technology will aid with this sleep revolution. Smart homes will optimise the home environment e.g., light and temperature along with smart products such as smart bedding will all help to minimize distractions and provide the optimum environment.
The result of prolonged poor sleeping habits (The National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to eight hours of sleep for people over age 64 and seven to nine hours for ages 18 to 64), has been linked to increasing the risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity as well as depression and Alzheimer’s disease, it weakens the immune system and even makes us more susceptible to catching the common cold.
Thus, a plethora of foods, drinks, supplements and content which help optimise sleep are arriving on the market, as well as a range of technology that switches on to switch us off.
As anxiety increases around sleep quality, ironically sleep becomes a harder state to achieve and although we are advised to stay off our phones before bed as a way of helping us get a better night’s sleep, there are now a whole host of sleep-aiding apps on the market that aim to put us into a more relaxed state, therefore making the act of sleep easier to achieve.
More than half of global consumers make sure they get a good amount of sleep to maintain a healthy lifestyle – many are on a quest for more energy, seeking natural ways to boost their vitality, recharge and improve performance. Sound sleep maybe just one route to improved mental and physical readiness – indeed, the quest is not confined to the hours between 11pm-7am – but it is a route that many now recognise as a vital ingredient for optimal living.
Sleep/wake cycle and the impact of light
Light has long been associated with our sleep/wake cycle; on a very basic level, we sleep when it is dark and work when it is light outside. But as humans, our lifestyles have hugely evolved over the years; we are no longer governed by natural light; many of us have jobs whereby we are indoors for the majority of the day, so what impact is artificial light having?
The colour and intensity of natural light changes throughout the day, beginning with a warm amber light at sunrise, slowly changing into a cooler, brighter light during the day, before warming back into an amber light at sunset.
The eye contains cells that react to these changes; it sends a signal to an area of the brain called the hypothalamus; this triggers the release of serotonin (the body’s natural antidepressant) during the day and melatonin (a hormone affecting sleep) at night. This creates our circadian rhythm and promotes our mental and physical health, mood, and energy.
Thankfully most indoor spaces are upgraded to LED lights, but it is still static – one colour, one intensity. This can cause our circadian rhythms to get out of sync; too much blue light late at night delays the onset of melatonin production, therefore stops us from sleeping. Blue light is prevalent in sunlight and is emitted from digital devices such as phones and laptops.
This is where smart circadian lighting can be beneficial – it mimics natural daylight allowing us to feel alert in the morning and mid-day, slowly changing in colour and intensity. By the evening, a warm amber tone is emitted, which doesn’t impact our sleep.
Managing the colour spectrum and intensity of lighting is particularly important in environments for elderly care.
As the human body ages, both day and night vision deteriorate. Moreover, light can often cause confusion if there is a glare or an unusual pattern. This is heightened when a person suffers from some cognitive condition, such as dementia or another severe memory problem, which The Alzheimer’s Society reports around 80% of care home residents experience.
Care home residents are surrounded by artificial light for the majority of their day. This emphasises the importance of good lighting and the potential impact a circadian lighting system could have on a care home resident’s quality of life. Circadian lighting helps to entrain their sleep/waking cycle encouraging residents to feel sleepy and alert at the right times of the day and ultimately allowing them to have a better night’s sleep.
‘We’re seeing a greater level of engagement from the residents during the day because the lighting is helping their body clock become alert and ready for the day…we’re not seeing people falling asleep in their chair or not wanting to engage in activities’ - David Poxton, Managing Director – Ashmere Care Home Group.
In the office environment, circadian lighting can also have a hugely positive impact; an improved sleep/wake cycle increases productivity and mood.
Recent studies have shown that office workers' productivity has increased by up to 20% following the introduction of human-centric circadian lighting.
“People are the most important asset of an organisation. Why not provide them with the best lighting pattern we can? Providing occupants with proper Circadian Lighting is similar to providing them with ergonomic chairs or flat-screen computer monitors.” - Mariana Figuero, Professor and Light and Health Program Director, Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Research has also proven that there is a clear relationship between lighting and the performance of students. The right lighting can promote calmness, reduce lethargy feelings, improve attention rates and boost productivity, motivating students to learn.