Why Do We Need Natural Light?

Have you ever noticed how a sunny day can instantly boost your mood? Or that first day of spring after a long winter, when we get a little pep in our step? This is no coincidence, we’re just seeing the light – literally!

We can feel the difference in the outside air. We all fall head over heels for those Zillow homes with big, beautiful windows. Healthline quoted a Future Workplace’s survey of over 1,600 employees who ranked “natural light access and view of outdoors” as a number one desire in a workplace environment. The consensus is clear that we as humans need natural light, but why is this?

Natural light supports better sleep and circadian rhythm.

Natural light is essential for regulating our circadian rhythm, the internal clock that controls our sleep-wake cycle. Exposure to sunlight, especially in the morning, signals to our brain that it’s time to be alert and active, boosting energy levels and improving focus. As daylight fades, our body naturally begins producing melatonin, the hormone that helps us wind down for restful sleep.

Getting enough exposure to natural light is how our bodies are able to know what time it is and regulate our response, making it easier to wake up naturally and go to sleep naturally when we need to. We can’t say the same for fluorescent overhead lighting or the blue light from our personal devices, which can disrupt our rhythm and make it more difficult to achieve quality sleep.

It kicks away the blues (or the seasonal depression)

We’ve all reveled in that giddy feeling on a fantastically sunny day, and this is just a small part of what access to natural light does for our mental health.

Natural light plays a crucial role in supporting mental health and combating seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that occurs during darker months with limited sunlight. Sunlight helps boost the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that enhances mood and reduces stress.

When we don’t get enough natural light, serotonin levels can drop, leading to symptoms of depression, fatigue, and low motivation. Exposure to daylight, especially in the morning, can help regulate mood, increase energy, and improve overall emotional balance. Whether we get it through outdoor walks or sunlit workspaces, this natural light access can keep our mood up and fend off seasonal depression.

How can we get more natural light in our routine?

I’m glad you asked! Depending on what your home looks like, your workspace and your schedule can dictate how much natural light we can get easily. Here are a few tips:

– Opening curtains during the morning and daytime.
– Taking outdoor walks more often!
– Use the mirror strategy: mirrors on the walls in our homes can reflect light, and brighten a room.
– Rearrange furniture so that it doesn’t block your natural light sources.
– If you have flexible hybrid work, find a workspace that has bright natural light.

Making a conscious effort to seek out natural light – through outdoor activities, open windows, or well-lit spaces – can have a profound impact on our daily lives and our wellbeing. We feel like we can breathe easier and feel the joy in our bodies, just like on that first fresh day of spring!

My challenge for you this week is to find a way to get some more natural light in your system: take a hike, hang out in the garden, or do an outdoor activity with friends. I want you to feel refreshed!

If you’d like to learn more about home wellness, you can find more resources in the Home section of your Wellifize app.

#wellifize, #wellness, #home, #fungshui, #design, #light, #natural, #sunlight, #vitamind, #seratonin, #dopamine, #circadianrhythm, #health, #mental, #cognition, #wellbeing, #mood, #energy, #boost, #sleep

References + Sources

Image by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Garone, Sarah. 2018. “The Health Benefits of Natural Light (and 7 Ways to Get More of It).” Healthline. Healthline Media. October 3, 2018.
https://www.healthline.com/health/natural-light-benefits.

Ko, Elizabeth, and Eve Glazier. 2022. “Being in Natural Light Improves Mood, Increases Happiness.” Www.uclahealth.org. UCLA. March 25, 2022.
https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/being-in-natural-light-improves-mood-increases-happiness.

Wouw, Inge van de. n.d. “Bringing the Benefits of Natural Light Indoors.” World Green Building Council.
https://worldgbc.org/article/bringing-the-benefits-of-natural-light-indoors/.