The darkest moment of the year has arrived. In my city, this means that the day lasts only roughly five and a half hours, and even during that time the sun does not rise very high in the sky. As someone who loves light, I am eagerly waiting for summer — but I also need to acknowledge that this season can be beautiful too. In clear weather, the sky can be wonderfully coloured around midday.
Sadly, the weather has been warm and rainy instead of freezing and clear. In addition, seasonal depression is a very real thing; the amount of sunlight affects people’s moods. And let’s be honest: it is not very pleasant to spend months going to work in the dark only to come back when it is dark again. It can feel like not seeing daylight at all for several months.
To combat this, I invested in a bright light lamp this autumn. I was very sceptical at first, but this has honestly been one of the best purchases I have made in a long time — the effect has been unbelievable. Even after the first use, I felt my brain wake up on a completely different level. After several months, I can say that I have never felt this energetic at this point of the year. I have noticed the biggest difference in how easy it is to wake up; of course, I still need enough sleep, but now eight hours is actually enough.
The bright light lamp is placed in front of you so that your eyes receive the light, but you should not stare directly at it. The lamp emits 2,500–10,000 lux, which can feel slightly uncomfortable at first but becomes tolerable as you get used to it. It is used early in the morning every day for about half an hour during the darker season; however, remember to follow your own doctor’s advice or the lamp’s guidelines.
Now that the darkest part of the year has passed, things will only improve from here. Soon I can put the lamp into storage and let it wait for the next autumn.
Leave a Reply