I am on several email lists for news and some has come across recently that I felt that I needed to share.  There are some pretty alarming statistics.

-Only 20% of teenagers get enough sleep (8-10 hours is optimal)

-According to a study done at the University of Michigan states that children who get less than 9.75 hours of sleep are 40% more likely to be overweight by sixth grade.

-The same study shows a direct correlation between the hours of sleep a child gets and their risk for obesity.  The rate for obesity declines with more sleep.

-Adults who sleep less that 7 hours have a high risk for weight gain.

-Only 20% of teens get adequate sleep.  A survey reported that 16% of teens admit to having sleep problems and 28% admit to falling asleep in school.

-New science relates the lack of adequate sleep to increased risk for obesity, depression, alcohol and drug abuse and future cardiovascular disease.

-Adolescents with a history of sleep problems are twice as likely to have ADHD as those without.  Some ADHD medications can exacerbate the sleep quality issues.

-A good night of quality sleep is key to memory and learning.  Our brain takes information in our short term memory and moves to the long term memory during sleep.

How can you and your family get the quality and ideal amount of sleep?

-Set a sleep schedule and do your best to keep it!

-Stay away from caffeine, sugar, and artificial sweeteners, as well as alcohol within 3 hours of bedtime.

-Stay physically active and exercise early in the day.

-Have a relaxing bedtime routine to get your body ready for sleep

-Make breakfast your biggest meal of the day.

-Get lots of bright light in the morning.

-Drink 8-10 eight ounce glasses of water per day.  Even mild dehydration (1/2 cup of your body’s water) could turn into   low-grade chronic fatigue.

-Naps are ok but try to limit them to 15 minutes.

-Go to bed when you are sleepy.  If you don’t fall asleep in 15-20 minutes get up and leave the bedroom.

-Move the television out of the bedroom.

-Keep the bedroom cool and add blankets if you are chilly.

There are many products designed to help capture that sometimes elusive deep sleep.  Aromatherapy seems to be gaining popularity because the scents can be changed to address specific issues.  Lavender promotes relaxation while peppermint clears sinuses and has a calming quality.There are sleep and relaxation CDs that help the body as well as the mind to relax.  A good quality ionizer can clean the air of pollutants and impurities to ease breathing and relaxation. Dust mite bedding covers help to reduce the allergens on sheets, mattresses, and pillows.  Bed linens made with natural fibers breathe helping to maintain comfortable temperatures.    There are many things to try, but the important thing is to keep searching for the combination that is right for you and your body. Get the rejuvenating sleep that your body deserves every night.

We recieved the following note from a customer:

Hello, this is a follow-up, thank you note for your great customer service we recieved a few months ago from your office.  I recieved the Flamingo therapy light for a Christmas gift in December.  It wasn’t working quite right.  I placed two calls to your ofice concerning this.  I recieved prompt remidies both times.  We recieved a new unit and it’s working well.  Thanks so much for your assistance & positive attitude.  We will refer others to you.  Mk, St Paul, MN

You are welcome Mk.  And thank you for taking the time to send that nice note.

It is rare that we have a problem with a new light.  But we will always do what we can to make sure that our products work for  you.

It seems like when we are under stress, our quality of sleep seems to suffer.  During times of stress, we need great quality sleep more than ever!  At Light Therapy Products, we have many customers who complain about sleep quality issues.  In order to address this, we have begun to add a product line for sleep and relaxation.  http://store.lighttherapyproducts.com/index.php/sleep-products?limit=all  We will be adding more items weekly after product reviews and testing.  I can personally attest to the fantastic cds by Dr David Illig.  These cds relax the body by convincing it that it is not in physical danger, which triggers the fight vs. flight response.  These cds have helped me to relax and feel rested when nothing else seems to work.  A friend recommended them telling me that she had used them during her divorce.  I have passed them on to friends who are dealing with the loss of a loved one, job loss, divorce, and all types of stress.  Protect your sleep so that you can deal more rationally with whatever comes your way.

Just in time for summer, we have added a tanning light to our product line.  This portable tanning light is only 18×10x6.5 and weighs only 18 lbs.  It has a larger coverage area than regular sunlamps and doesn’t have the harmful UV-B rays that burn skin.  It tans with UV-A rays so you can look great all year long.  Check it out:  http://store.lighttherapyproducts.com/index.php/skin-lights/table-top-tanning-light-ht-420.html¼/p>

Specials This Season:

Due to the continued popularity of the Suntouch plus, we have decided to continue this special through the end of May!

Use coupon code “happy” (case sensitive) and receive $20 off of our best selling light box - the Sun Touch Plus.  Regular price is $139.00.   This unit has light therapy and anion therapy all in one unit with a built in timer.

Wake up to your own personal sunrise every day rain or shine.
Use the coupon code “sunrise” and receive $10.00 off of any one of our many dawn simulators.  Choose the one that has the features that you like the best:

sunrise/sunset

back up alarm

radio

built in light

We have something for everyone from the sleepy child to the sleepy grandparent.

Spring is here beautiful and very much alive.

The trees are budding, the egret and the bluebirds have returned, and things are starting to turn green.

Traditionally, this is a slower time of year for us here at Light Therapy Products.  However, this year, we are making some exciting changes to our website and product line.

We have added a section of sleep and relaxation products, and we are continuing to add to our product offerings!

Soon, the sleep/relaxation section will have its own landing page icon so that it is easy to find.  Right now, if you click here:
http://store.lighttherapyproducts.com/index.php/sleep-products
We are still building the new product line but there are already some great things available to help you sleep better.

Dawn simulator alarm clocks
White noise generators
Pillows
Compact Discs
Headphones
Aromatherapy Candles and Oils
And some great new books.

So many of our customers tell us that they don’t sleep well.  Although light boxes and sunrise alarm clocks can help with that, we have been looking for a broader range of products that can help more people.  We have personally used some of the products, and we look forward to your feedback on the rest of the items.

An important part of having and maintaining energy is being well rested.  I recently read some great tips for getting quality sleep:

-Time evening work outs more than 2-3 hours before sleep.

-Limit or eliminate caffeine (even decaf has caffeine) after 3pm if you are not sleeping deeply.

-Keep your bedroom below 62 degrees for better brain function.

-If you have trouble regulating your body temperature at night, try wearing socks to bed.  Your body’s thermostat is often connected with the feet.  If they are warm, your body furnace won’t crank the heat.

-Make sure that your bedroom is reserved for romance and sleep-that’s it.  Remove any items or activities that detract from the peaceful and calming atmosphere that the bedroom should be.  Your body will learn that this is a place of relaxation.
Start your day off in a brand new way with one of our dawn simulators.  These great clocks wake the body with light instead of sound.  You can make have your own personal sunrise every day. The light tells the body to come out of the sleep cycle and get up for the day.  With 4 or more months of dark mornings, doesn’t that sound great?!  Then to wake the body fully, try using a light box,  taking a brisk walk or doing your version of a work out.  Nothing says wake up like deep  breathing and bright light therapy!

Now that spring is arriving, our light box sales usually quiet down in the states and they start to pick up in countries south of the equator.  Those in the contiguous US can still find great products at Light Therapy Products during the summer months.   Read these comments from E-Bay buyers about our high quality Compact Fluorescent (cf) light bulbs: 

Wonderful lights! Full spectrum! I saved a fortune!

Wow, better than described. Thank you!

Got here within a few days, Great lights

VERY impressive seller-fast ship & when one of bulbs defective, immediate refund

Really good product. Fast and easy transaction.

Quick shipment. Item as advertised. Highly recommended!

Excellent Transaction. Great Seller, helpful and patient. Thanks!!!!!

Just what an eBay seller should be - fantastic AAAA++++

by far the best ebay experience I have had. Outstanding customer service

 Our bulbs are high quality bright white and full spectrum.  As you can see, we have had great feedback from our E Bay customers!  We offer bulbs in wattages from 13-40 watts and flood lights in 15, 20 and 30 watts. We also offer 4 foot overhead tube lights in the same great quality.   Are you stuck in a depressing interior office?  Try our great full spectrum cf bulbs, overhead tube bulbs, and desk lamps which can double as a light box when you need one!  Ease eye fatigue, bring great quality light to your work area, and feel productive and alert. We also have beautiful salt rock lamps in many unique shapes, and as always, we have a wonderful selection of dawn simulator alarm clocks.  Wake with fantastic sunshine each and every morning and start your day off with a smile!

We thought that I would pass along an email from a customer who recently purchased a Soleil Sun Alarm and a Sad Elite light box.

I thought I’d take a minute to let you know that I am enjoying my dawn simulator clock.  I wish I had bought it earlier to help me through the winter but I got it just in time for the shift to Daylight Saving time and that was helpful.  I’m sure it will be great in the winter!  I never imagined how much light therapy could affect my life.  I am truly a believer in what these products can do!  I am excited that it works as well as it does because I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I am 100% convinced that light therapy can improve the quality of your life if you have SAD.  Thank you so much for the support and assistance that you website provides.  Karla

I recently wrote a bit about how crazy the Minnesota spring can be.  I hate to say that I told you so.    It was 60 and sunny over the weekend and Monday it was cold, windy and rainy.  I expected the rain to turn to snow at any moment.  Today I made sure that I had both a snow brush and an umbrella in my car.

I find with this unpredictable weather that use of my Sun Up dawn simulator and my Sun Touch Plus light box more important than ever.  No matter what the wacky weather, every morning I wake up to  and start my morning off with beautiful sunshine!  It sets a great tone and I can see that spring is coming, a bit more slowly than most of us would like, but it IS coming.  I have been noticing that the birds are singing longer songs, and I am seeing some feathered friends that have wintered elsewhere.

Start every day of with the warm glow of sunshine, even if it’s only inside your 4 walls!¼/p>

I find the issue of customer service so interesting.  It seems as though many times at Light Therapy Products, we get calls or emails that start out so angry.  Once they hear one of us say that we will take care of the problem and apologize for any error or defective product, we are usually met with silence.  Inevitably, the next words are said in a surprised tone…”You will?”  This is followed by a sigh of relief and a comment like “I thought that I was going to have to argue and fight to get what was right.”

For one thing, I am sad that people have had that experience anywhere.  I can also assure you that we stand behind our products and treat our customers fairly.  We want you to be able to order from us with confidence, and to just as confidently send friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to our showroom or our website and know that they will be treated well.  We are not out to make a quick sale and then disappear.  After 16 years in the business, we are here to stay.

I just got an email from one of our EBay customers who had a bad  Compact Fluorescent bulb.

Dear Sarah:
Thank you for this gracious response. I have bookmarked your company as an eBay “favorite” seller and you will get my business again next time I’m ordering this type of product.
God bless,
Paul