Combat jet lag with natural light

Do you loathe jet lag? Do you struggle to get out of bed on winter mornings? Space In Your Case’s Helen was given the opportunity to review the Lumie Zest alarm clock, which claims to combat jet lag and help with the winter blues. Here’s what she thought.

A review of the Lumie Zest

Now that the kids are back at school, there is a definite tang of Autumn in the air, don’t you think? The air is colder, the light is lower, and there’s a niggly temptation to pop the heating on – just for an hour. I know what’s coming next: as winter progresses, I’m going to find it more and more difficult to jump out of bed with the alarm, and as the afternoons turn darker my motivation is going to fall into a hot chocolate and a travel magazine quicker than you can say winter sun.

But we have found the solution, and what’s more, it’s going to be great as a way to combat jet lag too.

The Lumie Zest to combat jet lag

Combat jet lag with a natural light alarm clock

The Lumie Zest is an alarm clock with a difference. I’ve been using it as my bedside clock for a few weeks, and I can honestly say it is a pleasure to wake up. Lumie have been designing bright lights to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) since 1991, and their Zest alarm clock uses the same principle to help you wake up naturally and gently; a gradual ‘sunrise’ signals to the body to stop producing the hormones that keep you asleep (melatonin) and start production of those that get you going (cortisol).

There are various settings, depending on your preference, with the option to skip the alarm and just use the light. Personally, I need the security of an alarm, but I have found myself waking up gradually with just the light setting. And as all parents know, being one step ahead of a toddler wake up call is always a good thing!

But how does the Lumie Zest combat jet lag? Well, if you’ve ever travelled long-haul, you’ll know how difficult it is to drag your body out of a deep sleep when it truly believes it’s the middle of the night. And just how sluggish you can feel when you do. Extra bright light is proven to improve mood and make you feel more awake, and the natural nudge to your melatonin levels will help your body get into the new time zone quicker, so you can get on with enjoying your holiday. It’s sturdy and portable too, so is easy to pack; I’ll be taking it to Jamaica so I’ll report back on how well it worked for me.

It’s even designed to be portable to your desk for use as a light therapy treatment, so I’m hoping those afternoon hot chocolates might be a less regular fixture this winter!

We have one Lumie Zest bright light alarm clock to give away. All you need to do is follow the options in the Rafflecopter form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Entry is open to UK residents only, excluding anyone professionally associated with Space In Your Case or the promoter.

2. One winner will win a Lumie Zest alarm clock worth  £125. The prize is non-transferable, non-refundable and there is no cash alternative.

3. The prize draw starts at 12.01am GMT on Wednesday 9th September 2015 and closes at 11.59pm GMT on Tuesday 22nd September 2015.

4. Entry is free and must be made by commenting on this blog post answering: ‘What’s your top tip for avoiding jet-lag?’ Bonus entries can be obtained by tweeting about the giveaway, visiting Lumie Lights on Facebook, visiting Space In Your Case on Facebook, following Lumie Lights on Twitter, and following Space In Your Case on Twitter.

5. The name of the winners will be published on this website within 14 days of the giveaway closing.

6. The winners will be drawn at random using Rafflecopter and they must have commented on this blog post for their entry to count.

7. The winners will be notified by email. They willl have a week to respond, after which time a redraw will take place.

8. In the unlikely event that the prize becomes unavailable the Promoter reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value.

9. The Promoter’s decision on all matters is final and binding on all entrants. No correspondence will be entered into.

10. By taking part in this competition you agree to be bound by the competition terms and conditions.

11. The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any entrant and / or winner at its discretion and without any notice in accordance with these terms and conditions.

12. The Promoter is: Lumie, 3 The Links, Trafalgar Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge, CB23 8UD.