Winter blues

Experiencing low energy and mood levels in autumn and winter?

In countries with long winters, many people experience loss of energy and low spirits due to a lack of light; it’s known as winter blues.

About 1-3 % also suffer from low spirits and winter depression, which is also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Light and winter blues Take our Winter Blues test

Waking up

Want to wake up naturally, so you feel energized when you do?

In the darker months of autumn and winter many people have difficulties waking up, and still feel sleepy once they have.

Sunlight has a positive effect on us: in the summer we wake up with more energy and are generally in a better mood. Philips Wake-up Light aims to recreate this type of light.

Energy dips

Feel lacking in energy and need a boost at certain times of day?

Many people regularly experience energy dips throughout the day. They feel they should sleep for much longer than their lives and lifestyles allow. The most common time to feel an energy dip is after lunch. Philips Light Therapy and energy light products can be used to overcome tiredness and energy dips throughout the day.

Sleep patterns

Need help establishing good, regular sleep patterns?

People feel best if they are well rested and in harmony with their own natural rhythm. Regular exchange of light and dark environments throughout each 24-hour period is an important influence on our sleeping and waking pattern.

Jet lag

Need to fight jet lag when you’re travelling across time zones?

Travelling across several time zones puts your internal body clock out of sync with the arrival time zone. Not only does this cause sleeping problems, but may also affects mood and energy levels.

Short vs. long flights Travelling east Travelling west

How light therapy can help: Travelling east

The number of time zones you travel corresponds to the hours your body clock has to shift. If you’re only travelling a few time zones, one day’s preparation is enough. Add a day of light therapy for each additional two time zones.

We recommend goLITE BLU

When you travel east, you are recommended to start using the goLITE BLU energy light in the morning two to three days before you leave.

Using the goLITE BLU energy light for 30–45 minutes helps your body to get ready for the change in its body clock.

Combining this with getting up and going to bed earlier before your trip will have an impact on a possible jet lag. Add some doses of the goLITE BLU energy light during mid-morning when you arrive for an extra energy lift.

How light therapy can help: Travelling west

Most people’s body clocks adjust more easily to later time zones. This means travelling west has far less of an impact on our internal body clocks. Over long distances, light therapy can help with jet lag and boost energy levels.

We recommend goLITE BLU

If you’re travelling across more than three time zones, the goLITE BLU energy light can help jet lag. It gives you the energy boost you need after a long-haul flight.

Travelling west means you should only need one day of preparation, with an extra day for each three time zones.

When you arrive at your destination, try to stay awake till your normal bedtime for the first few days of your trip.

How light therapy can help: Short vs. long flights

If your trip is very short you may want to keep your sleep schedule as close as possible to how it is at home. It’s also good to keep when you eat similar to what you’re used to.

If you stay for more than a few days, you may actually want to shift your body clock to the new time zone. This will help you sleep better. Plus, you’re more alert and energetic when you need to be.

We recommend goLITE BLU

Special blue light is effective for adjusting biological clocks, so a goLITE BLU energy light can help you adapt your rhythm to the new time zone.

One of the best strategies to combat jet lag is to shift your body clock a day or two before you leave. Because it’s compact and portable, it’s easy to take a goLITE BLU with you and use it at your destination.

How light can help

Artificial lighting means we can make our days last as long as we want. Caught up in the fast pace of modern life, often people’s days spill over into their evenings. Delaying bedtime and sacrificing their sleep, because of work or school commitments the next day.

Not getting enough rest has an impact on how we function in our day-to-day lives. Often it’s only during the weekend that we can catch up on our sleep.

Reducing the amount of light during the few hours running up to bedtime, along with using a wake-up light early in the morning, can both help getting to sleep at the right time. It also helps improve alertness and energy at the start of the day.

It’s possible to achieve a good balance between resting and being active by maintaining a regular lifestyle without too much variation in bedtimes. Sufficient light exposure during the day, low light exposure during the evening, and darkness during the night contribute to your health.

We recommend energy light

Philips EnergyLight products provide the right sort and amount of light to help you enhance and maintain regular sleep habits. Regular morning usage of Philips EnergyLight and/or Philips goLITE gives you a direct feeling of getting more energy, and on the long term brings your natural rhythm and your lifestyle in harmony.

Energy Light offers the comfort, intensity and quality of natural daylight and is fully adjustable, depending on what you need and when.

How light therapy can help

It has been clinically proven that waking up gradually with light wakes you up with more energy and improves day-to-day wellbeing. Our body receives the soft light signals and reacts by starting the wake-up process. These signals gently prepare us for the morning and day ahead, helping us feel fresh and energized.

We recommend wake-up light

Through the extensive work we’ve done with leading light therapy experts, we’ve found that waking up with a soft, rising light improves wellbeing and makes it much easier to get up in the morning.

The Philips Wake-up Light is inspired by nature's sunrise. Light gradually increases 30 minutes before your alarm. This sends a signal to your body to start waking up, for a truly natural wake-up light experience. At the time you set, a natural sound starts playing to accompany your waking up experience.

How light therapy can help

You can help overcome morning tiredness by being exposed to bright light. You get that energy lift, just when you need it. It’s also helpful to avoid bright light exposure in the evening, particularly cold, blue-rich light, which can delay sleep and may result in increased tiredness in the morning.

The afternoon energy dip is a common phenomenon in daily energy levels. Taking a walk in the fresh air, a healthy diet and the right amount of quality sleep can all help reduce the afternoon dip. Being exposed to bright light throughout the day can help to energize.

We recommend wake-up light

Use a wake-up light for increasing energy levels in the morning

Philips Wake-up Light can help with waking up and reducing how long it takes to get going in the morning.

If you use Philips EnergyLight and goLITE BLU light therapy straight after waking up on a workday, your body will get an even stronger signal and energy boost. We recommend energy light when there’s a difference of several hours between when you would ideally want to wake up and when you actually need to. Using EnergyLight regularly will help the problem.

For beating energy dips through the day

Philips EnergyLight and goLITE BLU can be used throughout the day to increase your energy level and counteract tiredness.

How light therapy can help

You can reduce the effects of winter blues by increasing the levels of light you get during the day, through light therapy, or by taking a sunny holiday during the darker months.

Getting outside also helps. However, the clouds often stop enough sun getting through to help reduce symptoms. It’s essential to receive the right quality and intensity of light to overcome winter blues.

We recommend energy light

Philips EnergyLight products provide the right sort and amount of light to improve your mood and energy levels during the darker months. You can use them comfortably and conveniently at home or at work.

You can take a light therapy bath at any time during the day, though it's preferable to use it in the morning. A light therapy bath is not recommended in the evening or during the night. It could disturb sleep and affect energy levels the following day.

How does light affect you?

Take our Winter Blues test

Light therapy: Wake up better

Inspired by nature’s sunrise, the Philips Wake-Up Light uses a unique combination of light and sound to wake you up gently and naturally.

Light therapy: Boost your energy

Philips Energy Light products help you feel more energetic and naturally overcome winter blues.

Clinically proven

Philips has done extensive research with leading light therapy experts into the effects of light, so we can ensure our light therapy products are clinically proven.

Wake-up Light:

Gimenez et al. Chronobiol Int 27, 1219–1241 (2010)
van de WERKEN et al. J Sleep Res 19, 425–435 (2010)
Gabel et al. in prep.

EnergyLight:

Partonen et al. J Affect Disord 57(1-3), 55-61 (2000)
Avery et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand 103(4), 267-74 (2001)
Gordijn et al. J Affect Disord 136, 72–80 (2012)

goLITE BLU:

Anderson et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand 120, 203-12 (2009)
Meesters et al. in prep.
Glickman et al. Biol Psych 59, 502–507 (2006)

Start every day refreshed and energized

Wake up naturally

Inspired by nature’s sunrise the Philips Wake-Up Light uses a unique combination of light and sound to wake you up gently and naturally, making it easier to get out of bed, ready for the day ahead.

See the Wake-up Light range

How does the Philips Wake-up Light work?

The light gradually increases from soft dawn reds through warm orange to bright yellow light 30 minutes before your set alarm time.

This signals your body to move from sleep to waking, for a natural waking up experience. At your chosen time, a natural sound starts playing to make sure you are awake

Light sensitivity is different for everyone. In general, when using a higher light intensity we need less time to fully wake up.

There are 20 light intensities to choose from with the Wake-up Light, so you can fully adjust the intensity to suit your needs. You can also add natural sounds, radio, or your favorite song from your iPhone library (only for HF3550). Wake up just the way you want.

Clinically proven

It has been clinically proven that the Philips Wake-up Light improves your general wellbeing after waking up. Several studies have shown that the Philips Wake-up Light truly improves the quality of waking up, improves your mood and makes you feel more energized in the morning.

Wake-up Light:

Gimenez et al. Chronobiol Int 27, 1219–1241 (2010)
van de WERKEN et al. J Sleep Res 19, 425–435 (2010)
Gabel et al. in prep.

Proven results

of users say that Wake-up Light wakes them up pleasantly*.
of users say that Wake-up Light is a better way to wake up than how they did before*.
of Philips Wake-up Light users find it easier to get out of bed**
*(Blauw Research 2008, N=477 users)
**(Metrixlab 2011, N=209 users)

Wake-up Light: Tried and tested

We’ve taken the Wake-up Light from the Arctic North to a chicken coop to prove we can wake up the world. Here’s how.

The Philips Wake-up Light vs. the sun

Philips light therapy products vs. the Sun

Waking up where the sun doesn’t rise

Wake up the town: Philips light therapy in action

The energy you need, just when you need it

Boost your mood and energy with light therapy

In the bright summer months, we feel so naturally energetic and alive. Light plays a vital role in keeping energy levels up through the day.

Working with scientists and light therapy experts, Philips has developed a range of energy light products. They help you feel more energetic and naturally overcome winter blues and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

See all energy light products

How does light affect you?

Take our Winter Blues test

How does light therapy work?

It’s really simple: the light needs to be directed towards your eyes, but there’s no need to stare directly at it.

It means you can use EnergyLight or goLITE BLU to fight low energy levels while you’re doing things like eating, working or watching TV.

Use one of these Philips light therapy products and you’ll feel the benefits after just a few days.

When to use light therapy

Using light therapy at right time of day can mean a difference between getting great results and no results at all. Depending on the goal you want to achieve we recommend the best timing of using Philips Energy Lights.

Winter blues

In countries with long winters, many people experience loss of energy and low spirits due to a lack of light. It’s known as winter blues or seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Exposure to a ‘light bath’ from a Philips EnergyLight can restore the wellbeing and energy levels that you feel in summer.

Energy dips

Do you experience energy dips in the morning, after lunch or in the afternoon?

The Philips EnergyLight products can help you to feel alert and re-energized, just when you need it. Simply use the goLITE BLU or EnergyLight for up to 20 minutes to get your natural energy boost.

Sleep patterns

Using Philips Energy Lights can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Jet lag

Traveling between time zones can cause difficulty sleeping or lack of alertness during the day.

The Philips goLITE BLU can assist you in adjusting to different time zones and help you feel more alert when you need to.

Blue or white light therapy?

The Philips EnergyLight and the Philips goLITE BLU light therapy products both help equally well to fight the winter blues and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Many people love the 10.000 lux white EnergyLight. It’s been used in traditional light therapy for more than 25 years, bringing a touch of natural daylight into your home.

Others prefer the compact and portable goLITE BLU with the light from the blue summer sky. Scientific research of the past 10 years has shown that this color of light (while also contained in white light) is essential for effective energy lights.

Safety

Philips energy lights are medical devices. They comply to Medical Device Directive: 2007/47/EC, MDD 93/42/EEC and all the safety standards required.

Proven results

of users are satisfied with their Philips energy light product.*
of the users are satisfied with the way Philips goLITE helps them with fighting winter blues**
*(Metrix Lab 2010, N=286 users)
**(Metrix Lab 2011, N=229 users)
Independent research shows that the Philips energy light products provide the light your body needs to fight winter blues and to increase your energy level

EnergyLight:
Partonen et al. J Affect Disord 57(1-3), 55-61 (2000)
Avery et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand 103(4), 267-74 (2001)
Gordijn et al. J Affect Disord 136, 72–80 (2012)

goLITE BLU:
Anderson et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand 120, 203-12 (2009)
Glickman et al. Biol Psych 59, 502–507 (2006)
Meesters et al. in prep.

See how to use Philips goLITE BLU

Video about using blue light | Philips VitaLight light therapy

See how to use Philips EnergyLight

Video about using Philips EnergyLight light therapy

Testimonials

Jeff Major

Thank you so much for making such an excellent product. It sits right on my desk at work, where I can use it without any trouble during my workday. I can tell I am sleeping better and feel far less exhausted in the evenings. We've had a very gray winter and this has completely snapped me out of the doldrums. Thanks again.

Jeannie Locatelli

The winter 'veil' lifted the first time I used it. My energy level has improved and my appetite has gone away. I have no cravings at all. I need to be careful not to use it after 5:00 p.m. I use it once in the morning for 15 minutes and once in the afternoon for 15 -20 minutes.