My Circadian-Friendly Christmas Tree Protocol

(How I keep a 9-foot live tree cozy, beautiful, and melatonin-safe)

Before we start:  Click here to watch my video that gives you a tour of all my favorite things on sale for the holidays

Click here for my most up to date Holiday Gift Guide (including amazon deals on my favorite vibration plate & walking pad)

Every year I get the same question:

“How do you keep a Christmas tree in your house without wrecking your circadian rhythm?”

So here’s exactly what I do -step-by-step -with my own 9-foot live tree.

1. First: No, I’m not worried about toxins from live Christmas trees.

There’s a lot of fear-based content online about “toxins” from evergreen trees.

For most people, this is not a realistic concern - especially if you:

• keep your tree watered

• use a HEPA purifier (I use my JASPR air purifier)

• don’t have a known pine allergy

I’ve had live trees for years (and with 2 kiddos who have allergies and sensitive systems). Zero issues.

2. The lighting is what determines whether your tree is circadian-friendly.

This is the part almost everyone gets wrong.

I use incandescent mini lights, not LEDs.

Here’s why:

LED Christmas lights = bright blue spikes

When you measure them on a spectrometer, LED strands produce strong blue peaks and higher overall brightness - exactly the kind of light that suppresses melatonin, increases alertness at night, and shifts circadian timing later.

Incandescent mini lights = no blue spike

My spectrometer shows very little blue light, a warm continuous spectrum, and far lower brightness.

This is why incandescents feel calming instead of stimulating.

 I use 9 strands of incandescent minis on my 9-foot tree.

These are the lights I use.

3. Lux matters: Measure from where you actually sit.

This is the piece most people overlook.

I don’t measure lux next to the tree.

I measure lux from the couch - the place I’m actually spending my evenings.

Using MyCircadianApp, the reading from my sofa comes out to:

6 lux.

That is well within the range that won’t meaningfully suppress melatonin for most people.

Your goal:

Keep your evening environment the 3 hours leading up to bed under ~10 lux, and ideally under 5–6 lux, depending on your sensitivity (learn more about lux in my free webinar - click here)

That’s why the bulb type matters so much - LED trees tend to push lux & blue light far higher.

Download my free lightbulb guide here for more home options.

4. How to make your tree circadian-friendly:

✔️ Use incandescent mini lights

Avoid LEDs if you want to protect melatonin.

(Link to my exact strands) 

✔️ Use MyCircadianApp to measure lux

Measure from where you sit - couch, dining table, etc.

Not from next to the tree.

(Learn more about WHY lux matters in my free webinar)

✔️ Keep the room otherwise dim

 Don’t combine a bright tree with overhead LEDs or bright lamps.

✔️ Turn the tree OFF before bed

I unplug mine every night. Incandescents run warm, so it’s good practice anyway.

5. Safety & care for live trees

Live trees are amazing - but do take care of them:

• Water it daily. A dry tree is flammable.

• Use a humidifier underneath (I run mine on low). It prevents needles from drying out.

• Keep incandescents off when you’re not home or asleep.

• Consider a purifier like the Jaspr (code SARAK for $400 off) nearby if you’re sensitive to smells or allergens.

In short:

A Christmas tree can absolutely be circadian-friendly - it just comes down to lighting, lux, and nighttime routines.

If you follow this protocol, you can keep the holiday magic and keep your melatonin intact.

PS - Click here to tour my house and see all my favorite things!

AND - 

Click here for my most up to date Holiday Gift Guide (including amazon deals on my favorite vibration plate & walking pad)

Our tree (still needs ornaments - but we are off to a great start!)