See the Light – How Light Can Affect your Mood
Do you ever notice how great you feel when the sun is shining and the birds are chirping? Do you feel excited when you look out your window and see that it is a nice, sunny DAY? Do you feel like your “get-up-and-go” gets up and goes when clouds are around?
It turns out that there might be more to feeling low when it is overcast than just simple association. There is a bit of psychology and physiology involved when it comes to feeling down because of a lack of light.
Lighten Your Mood
Some people are gregarious, outdoor people who relish in getting outside and doing everything under the sun. Others are more independent and are happiest when they are inside, curled up with a good book. Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, light can affect your productivity, mood and overall mental activity. According to an article I found on Suite101.com, Dr Pierce J. Howard, author of The Owner’s Manual for the Brain, said “Light affects mood and alertness by shutting down the production of melatonin, the sleep inducer.”
The article goes on to mention that sunlight is a natural mood enhancer, and can increase creativity and productivity. Different types of light affect people in different ways, though. Personally, I don’t like fluorescent lighting, and I always feel best when I’m out in the sun. Other people are much better when working in the dark with only the glow of a computer screen to illuminate them. The affect of light varies depending on who you are, so your mood might be affected differently than someone else given a specific kind of light. Either way, light can definitely affect your mood. You can read more about how light affects your mood, productivity and performance in the article here: How Light Affects Your Mood.
Light Therapy
It is possible to feel the power of the sun’s rays even if it isn’t around by utilizing something called “light therapy.” This type of therapy is good for those who live in areas where the sun or sources of light are not in abundance. The therapy involves exposure to various wavelengths of light at specific times to help in “illuminating” someone’s winter blues. The whole process is more technical than you might expect, but the basic idea is that light can help your brain produce the right chemicals it needs to keep you upbeat and happy even during gloomy winter months. For more info, check out the Wikipedia entry or this article on the MayoClinic’s website.
Don’t forget that every cloud has a silver lining; remember that the sun is there, and it’ll be there tomorrow. I know its tough to think that sometimes in these winter months, but don’t forget to do something for yourself every now and again to make sure the winter blahs don’t get you down. Let me know in the comments how your mood is affected by light, or lack thereof.
