5 ways smart lighting can transform your lockdown routine

If there ever was a New Year that has had a lot of expectation attached to it, then this is it. We all need hope and positivity more than ever, while juggling home and family life and having to get up while it's still dark (it is January, after all). Anything that brings a little bit more joy and light into our everyday lives is hugely welcome right now, and smart lighting can help greatly to enhance the dark mornings and grey days. 

You may have heard about the Philips Hue smart lighting range, but did you know that this innovative lighting can actually transform your routine, making a whole host of activities from breakfast to homeschooling more fun. We explain how, in collaboration with John Lewis & Partners. 

1. Smart lights can help you wake up and concentrate

If you're having trouble waking up on dark winter mornings, there's a number of ways Philips Hue can help. Philips Hue White Ambiance and White and Colour Ambiance bulbs come with different modes for different activities – Energise, Concentrate, Read, and Relax. The Energise and Concentrate modes use the power of blue light to help you fully wake up and get ready for the day ahead. You can also pre-programme a routine using the Philips Hue app that will help you wake up – either gradually, or quickly if you prefer.  

2. Help the kids adjust to homeschooling routines

Without the consistency of work, school, and social outings, kids may struggle to concentrate on homework. You can help them by using the Concentrate light mode, as well as setting a routine that will turn on their favourite colour lights on when it's play time. 

3. Smart lighting can even help you separate work life from home life

If you're finding it difficult to keep track of time, with days slowly blurring into one, smart lights such as the Philips Hue Iris table lamp or the Bloom table lamp can help you create more definition to different parts of the day via the custom routine function of the app. You can set different mood lights for different sections of the day – which is especially helpful for people who have limited space available and are using the same room for work and relaxation. Lighting can transform the atmosphere of a space in an instant, and can help create a mental separation between work and home life. 

4. And it can give you a gentle nudge to eat away from your desk

One of the dangers of working from home is the tendency to sit more and move less – and eat your lunch while working at your desk. If your New Year's resolution is to walk more and not eat while working, Philips Hue can help by giving you a gentle reminder that it's time to get up from your workspace. Create timed reminders from the app, and the lights will do the rest!

5. Use the lights to relax and unwind in the evenings

The stress of lockdown life means that many of us are finding it harder to relax and doze off in the evenings. You can schedule a personalised routine using Hue Labs that will adjust the lighting to softer relaxation mode at the end of the day, signalling that it's time to switch off from work. The Read mode will help you gradually wind down with a book – and a warm white light that won't interfere with your ability to fall asleep.

You can also use the ‘Go to Sleep’ routine in the Hue app – your lights will slowly fade to ease you to sleep.

Find the Philips Hue range at John Lewis & Partners and benefit from a two-year guarantee on all the products.