During winter seasons, daylight is much shorter and there is an increase of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Amber Leong knows about long, dark winters as a resident of Minneapolis. As the Founder/CEO of Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamps (www.CircadianOptics.com), Amber’s story is of rising from adversity and finding success and happiness (and light).
Growing up in Malaysia, Amber lived in a house without indoor plumbing. Coming to the U.S., the family cashed in a retirement account, borrowed from family and sent her to college in Minnesota. After contracting toxic shock syndrome during her first semester in school, she was given a 50/50 chance of survival. After spending 10 days in the ICU, drifting in and out of consciousness, she survived. The experience taught her to cherish every day and was the main driver for starting Circadian Optics.
Circadian Optics was born in a dark office during a long Minnesota winter. Amber was always tired and had trouble concentrating. The lack of light was getting her down. She learned about light and the circadian clock and purchased a light therapy lamp. It was a huge, boxy device that wasn’t truly user friendly. She designed a smaller, good looking light therapy lamp and Circadian Optics was on its way.
Circadian Optics manufactures bright light therapy lamps to mimic daylight. These designer lamps allows individuals to get the light needed at home or at a desk. Science tells us to get enough sleep, take vitamins, drink water and exercise. However, we need sunlight. Getting light at the right time improves mood, boosts energy and regulates sleep.
Circadian Rhythm is the body’s natural way of tell you to sleep and rise, triggering important biological processes that help you function best. It is an internal clock to make us alert during the day and sleepy at night. When feeling tired, sluggish, and down, it could be due to normal disruptions to this cycle. With busy schedules that can go until past dark and almost constant screen time, modern lives are full of interruptions that could potentially throw off the sleep/wake cycle.
Bright light influences the body. Too little light in the morning could cause the tired feeling during the day. Too much light at night may make us unable to fall asleep at bedtime.
Light therapy such as Circadian Optics can reset the body’s Circadian Rhythm to help you get a better night’s sleep and feel naturally awake and energized throughout the day. As neuroscientists have discovered, harnessing the power of bright light could provide benefits to the mind and body.
Circadian Optics lamps are an easy and effective way of getting exposure to bright light indoors. They use LED lights to provide bright light while filtering out dangerous UV rays. The best time to use a Circadian Optics lamp is in the morning. Exposure to bright light in the early part of the day stimulates receptors in your eyes and sets your body clock for the day. Morning light is most effective in helping be awake, alert and energetic during the day.
Circadian Optics lamps can be used at home or in the workplace to increase wellness. Circadian Optics lamps retail from $44.99 – $74.99.
Amber was fortunate to be selected for ABC-TV’s “Shark Tank” where she was offered a deal from both Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner.
Amber Leong Talks With Mark Alyn
