sleep ritual

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).

Methodology
1. Study Objectives
Deep sleep pillow spray has been tested in 4 independent user studies on over 600 participants to asses performance and user satisfaction.

2. Study Design
Type of Study: Quantitative user study with self-assessment questionnaires.
Product Use Protocol: Participants sprayed the pillow spray onto their pillow as per provided instructions.
Data Analysis: Results from the self-assessment questionnaires were collected and analysed by an independent statistician.
Participants: 4 independent user studies were conducted to test performance for participants with mild sleep anxiety, ex-prescription users and heavy tech users.

3. Blinding Procedure
To maintain objectivity, the product was provided in lab sample containers without brand identifiers or final packaging. Participants were randomly assigned to test or control (placebo) groups.

4. Results
Former sleep prescription users found they:
- fell sleep faster.
- woke feeling refreshed.
- slept better.
*In a study of 100 subjects and 100 ex-prescription users compared to no product. Individual results may vary.

Participants with mild sleep anxiety found they:
- fell asleep faster.
- enjoyed a deeper sleep.
- felt less anxious before bed.
- felt less tired in the morning and throughout the day.
*200 male and female participants vs a placebo. Individual results may vary.

Heavy tech users found they:
- slept better than usual.
- felt less anxious before bed.
- slept for longer.
- had improved sleep quality.
*In a study of 100 subjects compared to no product. Individual results may vary.

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.