Wake Up Energized. Stay Alert All Day. Sleep Better at Night.

What is your circadian rhythm?

Your circadian rhythm is an internal 24-hour cycle that regulates when you feel alert, when you get hungry, when your body temperature rises and falls, and when you naturally feel ready for sleep. It's controlled by a small region in your brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which acts as your body's master clock.

When this clock is aligned, you feel energized in the morning, focused during the day, and naturally tired at night. When it drifts out of sync, you experience the opposite: grogginess in the morning, afternoon crashes, and difficulty falling asleep at night (Czeisler & Gooley, 2007).

Light is the primary synchronizing signal

Your circadian system stays aligned through environmental cues, and light is the most powerful one. When light enters your eyes in the morning, it activates specialized cells in your retina called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). These cells contain a photopigment called melanopsin, which is distinct from the rods and cones you use for vision.

When melanopsin absorbs light, these cells send a signal directly to the SCN. The SCN responds by triggering a coordinated series of changes throughout your body: cortisol levels rise to promote alertness, melatonin production is suppressed, and core body temperature begins to increase. This cascade is what drives morning wakefulness and sets your rhythm for the entire day (Berson et al., 2002; Lockley et al., 2006).

The signal requires specific wavelength and intensity

Not all light affects your circadian system equally. Melanopsin-containing cells are most sensitive to short-wavelength blue light, with peak sensitivity around 480 nanometers (Brainard et al., 2001; Thapan et al., 2001). Research indicates that approximately 1,000-1,500 lux of light at this wavelength is sufficient to produce robust circadian effects.

Typical indoor environments provide 200-500 lux of mixed-spectrum light from overhead fixtures. This is adequate for vision but falls well below the threshold needed to produce a strong circadian signal. The result is a weak or delayed morning activation, leaving your internal clock without a clear reference point (Wright et al., 2013).

Timing matters as much as intensity

The same blue-enriched light that promotes alertness in the morning can disrupt sleep if encountered at night. Your circadian system didn't evolve to distinguish "good" from "bad" blue light; it evolved to use the presence of short-wavelength light as a signal that day has begun.

The most critical window is the first 1-2 hours after waking. Light exposure during this period has the strongest effect on anchoring your rhythm and promoting cortisol release. Missing this window means your clock drifts, making it harder to feel alert when you need to and harder to fall asleep when you want to (Gooley et al., 2011).

What circadian alignment supports

Research suggests that receiving the right light signal at the right time is associated with several measurable benefits:

• More consistent morning energy: A well-timed cortisol awakening response supports natural alertness without relying solely on caffeine (Leproult et al., 2001).
• Improved daytime alertness: When the circadian system receives a strong morning signal, the contrast between day and night states becomes sharper, supporting sustained focus during working hours (Gooley et al., 2011).
• Better sleep timing: Morning light exposure has been shown to advance circadian phase, helping people fall asleep earlier and wake earlier naturally (Terman & Terman, 2005).
• Mood regulation: Circadian disruption is associated with negative mood states, while consistent light exposure correlates with improved mood stability (Golden et al., 2005).

OptimRise is a consumer wellness device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.

The practical solution

OptimRise delivers 1,500 lux of blue-enriched light at 480nm directly to your eyes during your morning routine. Unlike stationary light boxes that require dedicated session time, or relying on weather-dependent sunlight exposure, OptimRise integrates into the time you're already spending on breakfast, email, or getting ready.

By providing the specific wavelength and intensity your circadian system needs, when it needs it, OptimRise addresses the fundamental mismatch between modern indoor environments and human biology—without requiring you to change your schedule or depend on the weather.