How to Use Philips Hue Bulbs for Light Therapy.
In winter, when the level of sunlight is insufficient, many people experience a dramatic drop in mood. The severity ranges from a mild winter blues to full blown seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a condition in which you experience increased depression or mood problems due to certain seasonal changes.
It turns out that sunlight is a driving factor in our mood as it provides us with vitamin D, which can help increase the levels of the mood-enhancing chemical serotonin in our brain. The light itself also helps our body maintain a circadian rhythm that tells our body when to wake up and when to sleep.
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Researchers have found that for those with SAD, light therapy can be very helpful in improving mood. Light therapy is when you are exposed to a bright light source for at least 30 minutes, usually starting in the fall, when natural levels of sunlight begin to decrease.
Although light therapy doesn’t provide us with the vitamin D that sunlight does, it has proven to be effective against winter depression.
Using Philips Hue Bulbs for Light Therapy
There are many light therapy devices. They usually only have one setting and are very bright. If you choose to use Philips Hue bulbs, you have control over how your lighting looks. There are several ways to use these lamps for light therapy.
Hue bulbs are connected to your home Wi-Fi network and you can use the Philips Hue app on your smartphone to control these bulbs. There are many different lighting settings, and you can also customize the automation.
You can set procedures that turn on or change the light according to specific settings. This is a great way to start light therapy as it is done automatically, so you don’t even have to worry about adjusting the light every day.
Here’s how to use automation for light therapy:
- In the Philips Hue app, click Automate in the bottom menu.
- If you haven’t set up an automation yet, you can select Create Automation.
- Click the Custom option or the blue plus sign in the upper right corner if you’ve opened Automation before.
- Select what time of day you want the automation to occur. This should be the time when you want to either wake up or have light therapy. Click Next.
- Select the lights you want to use for this automation.
- On the next screen, click on the lights and choose what kind of lighting you want to use at this set time. For light therapy, you need to select the Bright or Energy options. They are also good for awakening. When you’re done, click Next.
- Name your automation.
You can also use Hue Labs formulas for a more personalized experience. To use them, follow these steps:
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- In the Philips Hue app, select the Automation tab at the bottom.
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Under Other, click Hue Labs.
- To view Hue Labs formulas, tap the Formulas option in the upper left corner.
- Find the formula you want to use with the Hue lights and click Try! button.
- Review the settings and customize them as you like. When you’re done, click “Install” at the bottom.
- You can change formulas by clicking on the Hue Labs Controls tab at the bottom of the page. You can also stop formulas whenever you want.
What Light Settings Work Best?
You can use a variety of settings with your Hue smart bulbs, so which one will best improve your mood?
The answer may vary depending on your personal preference. Below is a list of scene settings that may be suitable for certain situations.
For more energy: The Add Energy or Concentrate scenes are great for getting more energy. If you want to create personalized lighting, anything that includes a few shades of blue and white will help with energy.
To improve your mood: Try using yellow hues to enhance your mood, for example in the Vivid or Savanna Sunset scenes.
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To relax: To relax, reduce the light intensity. For example, use shades of pink or red, for example, in a Twilight or Tropical Twilight scene.
To wake up: use bright light settings and use blues or yellows. The scene parameters “Bright” or “Energy” are suitable for this.
To Fall Asleep: Avoid any shades of blue when trying to fall asleep. Yellow, orange, or red can help your brain relax before bed. Nightlight or Dimmed settings are good choices.
If You’re Experiencing Low Moods
You may experience seasonal affective disorder if you find that your mood is constantly low and you find it difficult to do what you normally enjoy. This often happens in winter.
Light therapy can be of great help, but should not be used as medicine if the feeling persists. Be sure to see a doctor or therapist. Other lifestyle changes, such as diet or exercise, can be a factor in improving your mood. Mental illness should be cared for carefully, and only a doctor can help you navigate this.
If you’re already doing this, adding light therapy can be very helpful, and Hue lights are a great way to customize your lighting.
How to Use Philips Hue Bulbs for Light Therapy
How to Use Philips Hue Bulbs for Light Therapy