When we hear about sunlight, we often only hear about the risks and negative effects. It becomes easy to forget that sunlight also has so many positive effects on both your mood and overall health. It’s a natural mood booster, and there are plenty of reasons to step outside and soak up those rays. Here’s why sunshine is one of the best tools for feeling your best.
Sunlight Can Lift Your Spirits
Ever notice how a sunny day just makes everything better? Sunlight can help to stimulate the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is vital for one's physical and mental health. Serotonin is the “feel good” hormone, having enough serotonin can help you feel calm and focused. On the other hand, if your brain doesn't get enough of it, you might feel down, sluggish, and irritable. One of the easiest ways to solve these issues caused by a lack of serotonin is by getting enough sunlight!
Sunlight’s Link to Seasonal Affective Disorder
We know that sunlight can help stimulate serotonin, but did you know that a lack of daylight exposure can cause you to have insufficient serotonin levels, leading to seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? SAD explains why some people feel more down during colder months, but then feel better in the spring and summer. Luckily, SAD can be successfully treated with light therapy, suggesting that increased sunlight exposure can not only help increase one's everyday mood, but can also cause an antidepressant effect in the brain. When the days start getting shorter, be sure to make it a priority to get as much daylight as possible.
Sunlight’s Effect on Job Satisfaction
As we’ve learned, not only does sunlight have a strong effect on improving your mood, but it can also help you love your job more! Research shows that greater levels of sunlight are associated with lower depressed mood, higher job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. If you've ever felt like a rainy day makes you want to crawl back into bed, it's probably because your mood is directly linked to sun exposure. A depressed mood might spill over onto how you experience your job, with a low mood leading to job dissatisfaction, but, natural light exposure can increase your mood, leading to increased job satisfaction!
The Vitamin Based Health Benefits of Sunlight Exposure
Sunlight is a great source of Vitamin D. This powerhouse vitamin plays a crucial role in regulating your immune system. Without enough Vitamin D (usually from not getting enough sun), you might be putting yourself at risk for chronic illnesses like autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular issues, and even some cancers. If you don't feel like you're getting enough sun naturally, consider taking a vitamin d supplement to protect yourself from deficiency, SUN LOVE’s PLE and vitamin D supplement is a great option.
By Emily Kaiden