How Infrared Light Can Help Your Body's Internal Clock During Fall and Winter

Infrared Light Benefits During Fall and Winter

What Is Your Circadian Rhythm?

Let’s take a quick detour to understand your circadian rhythm—because it’s key to understanding why light therapy works. Your circadian rhythm is like an internal 24-hour clock that runs in the background of your body. It controls when you feel sleepy, when you feel awake, your body temperature, and even the release of important hormones like melatonin (the sleep hormone).

Your circadian rhythm is heavily influenced by light. When it's bright and sunny, your body gets the message to wake up and stay active. When it’s dark outside, your body starts winding down, getting ready for sleep. Sounds pretty simple, right? But when the seasons change and sunlight becomes scarce (especially in fall and winter), your circadian rhythm can get a little off track.

That’s where infrared light therapy comes in.

What Is Infrared Light Therapy?

Infrared light is a type of light you can't see with your eyes, but it can penetrate deep into your skin and tissues. It is a hidden helper for your body, offering up all kinds of benefits—from promoting healing to reducing inflammation, and even helping with sleep.

There are three types of infrared light based on wavelength: near-infrared (NIR), mid-infrared (MIR), and far-infrared (FIR). For our purposes here, we’re mostly talking about near-infrared light (NIR), which is the kind that’s been studied for its ability to promote relaxation, improve circulation, and support better sleep and circadian rhythm regulation.

So, how exactly does this invisible light help you sleep better and stay in sync with the changing seasons? Let’s break it down.

When you’re exposed to light during the day—especially blue light from the sun—your brain gets the signal that it’s time to be awake and alert. This is great during the daytime but can mess with your melatonin levels as the sun sets. Infrared light helps support that delicate balance.

Infrared light doesn't directly "wake you up" or "put you to sleep" like sunlight does, but it can gently nudge your body toward a more balanced sleep-wake cycle. So, using infrared light therapy—whether in the morning or evening—can help your brain produce melatonin at the right times. This means you might fall asleep easier and enjoy deeper, more restorative sleep.

Speaking of sleep, infrared light also helps you chill out. Fall and winter can bring a lot of stress—between holiday hustle, end-of-year deadlines, and the cold weather making everything feel extra sluggish. Infrared light can help reduce muscle tension and ease the stress out of your body. A more relaxed body = better sleep.

Plus, infrared light helps improve circulation, which means better blood flow to your tissues and organs. When your body’s circulation is optimized, it can repair and regenerate while you sleep, making those precious hours of rest feel even more rejuvenating.

Here’s the thing: your circadian rhythm and body temperature are BFFs. Normally, your body’s temp drops a little as you fall asleep and rises again when you wake up. But during the winter months, the cold can make it harder to ease into that sleep-friendly temperature drop.

Infrared light can help your body regulate temperature more effectively. By boosting circulation, infrared light helps to warm up your body and create a cozy, sleep-friendly environment—no extra blankets needed. So, if you’re struggling to fall asleep in chilly conditions, infrared light might just be the warmth your body’s craving.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is real. The lack of sunlight during the fall and winter months can mess with your mood, leaving you feeling sluggish, irritable, and low on energy. While traditional light therapy (think full-spectrum or bright light boxes) is traditionally the go-to for SAD, infrared light can also help by giving your body a little mood boost.

Infrared light stimulates the production of serotonin and endorphins—those feel-good chemicals that lift your spirits and reduce stress. So if you're feeling a little "meh" as the days get shorter, infrared light might help give you a boost.

As the dark, cooler months set in, infrared light therapy can be a game-changer for your sleep, energy levels, and overall well-being. By supporting your circadian rhythm, helping you sleep more soundly, and even lifting your mood, infrared light can help you make the most of fall and winter.

So, if you're tired of the winter blues and struggling with your sleep schedule, why not give infrared light therapy a try? It might just be the little hack your body’s been craving. Stay warm, stay rested, and let infrared light be your ally this season!



Through the end if the November – you can purchase ONE MONTH of UNLIMITED Light Therapy sessions in the NEO Light Bed for only $200! This is a great opportunity to give it a try and see all of the positive benefits!