Want to feel happier? Get yourself into the sunshine! Will all of your problems disappear? No (but you knew that). However, sunshine does help us to feel better during the day and to sleep better at night. A recent study of 500,000 people demonstrated that greater amounts of sunshine exposure reduced rates of depression and antidepressant use, produced lower neuroticism and overall left people feeling happier (Burns AC, et al. 2021). To kick it up a notch, try early morning sun exposure! New research suggests that sun exposure between 8 and 10 AM may positively influences the hormone production of cortisol, melatonin, and serotonin. Happy hormones are always a good thing!
As always, follow your doctor’s advice for sunscreen and let the sun shine in!
References
Time spent in outdoor light is associated with mood, sleep, and circadian rhythm-related outcomes: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study in over 400,000 UK Biobank participants. Journal of Affective Disorders 295, 347–352 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.08.056)