dream to sleep

The type of light we view, and the time of day we are exposed to it, have tremendous effects on our sleep. Getting outside in sunlight for just 10-30 minutes every day (as soon after waking as possible) is not only an uplifting way to start your day, but it triggers the release of dopamine and encourages cortisol levels to peak early in the day. Thought cortisol was related to stress? It is, but it also signals to the body that it is time to wake up, helps boost the immune system and increases our ability to focus, setting us up for whatever the day has in store.

Some tips on morning light exposure:
For maximum effectiveness, do not wear sunglasses when getting your morning light, but protect the eyes by not staring directly at the sun; eyeglasses and contacts are fine.
The amount of time needed outside depends on the weather; on a clear day, 10 minutes is enough, but closer to 30 minutes is best for cloudy or rainy days.

Terman, J. S., Terman, M., Lo, E. S., & Cooper, T. B. (2001). Circadian time of morning light administration and therapeutic response in winter depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 58(1).
Okamoto, Y., Rea, M. S., & Figueiro, M. G. (2014). Temporal dynamics of EEG activity during short- and long-wavelength light exposures in the early morning. BMC Research Notes, 7(1).
The duration of light exposure in the morning and early‐afternoon affects adaptation to night work. (2019). Journal of Sleep Research, 28(S1).

Our Functional Fragrances are tested against a placebo and measured in clinical studies using fMRI and ECG (electrocardiogram). Our Functional Fragrances can be seen as having additional physiological benefits, due to interaction with the limbic system, which in turn can stimulate the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. As part of a programme to understand how different aromas can stimulate different emotional responses, This Works, in collaboration with Professor Gaby Badre, identified a library of Functional Fragrances shown to have a relationship with emotions, such as joy (Perfect), relaxation and reward (Love Sleep), alertness (Morning Expert) and stress reduction (Stress Check).

Our Deep Sleep Functional Fragrance has been tested in an fMRI brain imaging study which indicated brain activation in areas associated with emotions, pleasure and calmness and concluded the fragrance had the potential encourage a pre-disposition towards sleep.*

*Badre, G., Olausson, H., Ackerley, R., & Croy, I. (2018). Brain functional MRI (fMRI) study of fragrance inhalation. Any impact on sleep/wake/ reward-related brain areas? Journal of Sleep Research, 27, 164.