12/21/2022
If you've been following me for a while, you know I'm a huge proponent of 15-20 minutes a day of sunlight exposure. Sunlight and time outdoors can powerfully impact your overall well-being with positive effects on mood, alertness, and sleep quality. A recent study from the Journal of Affective Disorders followed 400,000 people for several years. The people in the study spent a median of 2.5 daylight hours outdoors, and each additional hour beyond that was linked to reduced antidepressant usage, greater happiness, and less tiredness.
The winter will sometimes give us fewer opportunities to get outside. To combat this, I recommend getting as much sunshine as you can when you can (safely, of course!) and also trying Red Light Therapy. I have units in my office that you can try, and easy options to rent or buy units for yourself. Message me for info!
