Why sunlight is important even in the winter

The long, dark days of winter don’t just have an effect on our mood – they can be bad for our health too. But there are ways of letting the light in.

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Mood dampener

Many people notice that, during the winter months, they have less energy and crave starchy, carbohydrate-filled foods as a result of lack of sunlight.

For a small minority of people, it can even lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which can be debilitating. According to The Guardian, around a quarter of people with winter blues go on to develop SAD, leading to depressive symptoms.

Soak up the rays

In winter, it’s important to make the most of the daylight available and get out for a walk. Failing that, you can make the most of your property’s natural daylight by keeping windows clear and ensuring that the light gets in.

There are lots of modern solutions homeowners can use to try to maximise natural light, including adding a brise soleil, which allows the low-level winter sun to enter a building. In summer, a brise soleil is used to stop a building from overheating and give shade, but its design means that in the winter, the angled rays of the sun can reach your rooms. For advice on how a brise soleil works and can improve not only your mood but also your energy efficiency, there are lots of specialists such as https://alusystems.uk/brise-soleil-solar-shading/ that can give guidance.

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Temporary feeling

It can be a good idea to take Vitamin D in winter as you won’t be absorbing as much from the sun. But remember that the short days don’t last too long, and as long as you are maximising the amount of natural light you get each day, you’ll soon feel your energy levels pick up.