The Sun is your Friend
The sun is often seen as something to avoid or protect ourselves from, but did you know that sunlight is actually essential for our health and well being? You probably did, because you’re a smart and educated individual! The sun is fantastic and it should be a well used tool in our tool kit. From the morning rays, to overhead heat, to dusk settings, the sun is one of the most beautiful things we have access to. And it’s something that truly helps keep us living in tip-top shape! So why is the sun so important?
The Sun’s Benefits
Vitamin D production: The sun is the best natural source of vitamin D, which is essential for strong bones, a healthy immune system, and a range of other health benefits.
Improved mood: Exposure to sunlight can help improve our mood by increasing the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood and sleep.
Better sleep: Our circadian rhythm, or internal body clock, is regulated by exposure to light. Exposure to sunlight during the day can help regulate our sleep-wake cycle and improve our sleep at night.
Reduced risk of chronic disease: Research has shown that people who get more sunlight have a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.
Improved cognitive function: Exposure to sunlight has been shown to improve cognitive function, including memory, attention, and processing speed.
Well, Keaton.. this is all good and well but I don’t see the sun that much! I understand, but in reality, we don’t need much. Here are some tools to help you.
Sunlight Toolkit
Try to spend at least 20-30 minutes outdoors during the day, preferably in the morning or early afternoon when the sun's rays are less intense. This not only helps that circadian rhythm we were talking about, but gets you ready for the day, and ready for sleep.
While sunlight is important for our health, too much exposure can be harmful. Be mindful of the time of day and your skin type, and wear protective clothing when necessary.
If you can't spend time outdoors, bring nature indoors by adding plants to your home or workspace, or opening your curtains to let in natural light. Sitting by a window with the sun coming through is better than a dark room with no light during the day!
Maybe consider light therapy. For people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or other conditions that affect mood and energy levels, light therapy can be an effective treatment option. This can be an option during those long winter months up north if the sun seriously isn’t an option! Because this one is so specific, if you’d like to learn more, here is a good article.
The sun is our friend, not something to be feared. We can embrace the many health benefits by incorporating more sunlight into our lives. This will have drastic effects on our physical and mental health, not just now but in the long term!
If you want to learn more about these cool topics like sunlight, eustress, sauna, nature, and more, check out Trybe Summits where we bring people together to better our physical, mental, and emotional health through eustress!
