The feel-good factor of daylight

The sun is staying out for longer and that’s a reason to celebrate, right? The main advantage of both spring and summer is the amount of daylight we get. You wake up to the birds tweeting and the sun rising, then leave work with the glistening sun beaming down, making the evenings feel longer and the barbeque out almost permanently.

There is something about the season changes which makes us feel instantly happier without us doing anything different, but why is that? Here we look at the benefits of daylight and how it can help our health!

Longer days

It always feels like we have more time to do stuff during the spring and summer seasons and that’s because we have more daylight hours. During winter, we drive to work in the dark, and we head home in the dark, where it’s easier to crawl into our warm beds and simply hibernate. Whereas during spring and summer, we have more daylight hours to enjoy, meaning we can be more productive, whether you want to head out for a run, do some gardening or having a beer whilst watching the sunset.

Regulate Sleep

Did you know that sun exposure can even help improve the quality of your sleep? So you can feel more energised and awake! When sunlight hits our eyes it stops the production of melatonin (the hormone that makes us feel drowsy and helps us sleep) and tells our bodies it’s time to wake up. Morning sunshine can also increase our cortisol levels, which give us that motivation to get out of bed and be active!

Treats depression

Daylight is also great for our mental health and can help prevent and reduce depression. Having some moderate exposure to the sunlight can help your brain produce more serotonin, which is a feel-good chemical and can act as a natural antidepressant. Have you ever heard of Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? It’s a type of depression that comes and goes in a seasonal pattern, it’s also known as ‘winter depression’ and has links to a lack of sunlight, your body’s internal clock and the production of melatonin and serotonin.

10 top tips to spending more time outdoors

1. Walk or cycle to work
2. Have your lunch in a green space
3. Plan a weekend camping trip
4. Get into gardening
5. Take your dog for an extra-long walk
6. Dine al fresco
7. Find a new outdoor hobby
8. Plan a picnic
9. Explore your local parks
10. Exercise outside

Although spending time in the sun has positive effects on your health, it’s important to protect yourself from getting sunburn and reducing your risk of skin cancer. Take a look at our blog post ‘protect yourself from the sun’ for some top tips.