Stay Happy and Healthy: The Benefits of Natural Light

You probably spend a lot of time inside during the winter months, particularly this year, when many people are staying locked-down indoors. Keeping away from crowded spaces is essential right now, and it’s too cold to go outside, so for the next few months, to stay healthy and safe, being inside where it’s warm is your best bet. But are you getting enough natural light? Natural light is a crucial ingredient to a happy and healthy lifestyle.

While sitting under the hot sun for hours on end isn’t recommended (nobody wants a sunburn), the right amount of natural sunlight is beneficial for your overall physical and emotional wellbeing. Let’s look at why natural light is vital to your health and how to soak it up at home, even in the winter.

An Excellent Source of Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of phosphate and calcium in the body, making bones and teeth stronger and healthier. It can help prevent osteoporosis and arthritis. It can also help fight depression by regulating your mood naturally. Often called the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D’s primary source is from the sun. But in the winter there isn’t a lot of sunshine to absorb. You spend most of your time inside the house, shielded from the sun. Consider taking vitamin D supplements throughout the season to make up for the lack of sunlight.

An even better idea is to build a sunroom extension on your home. Talk to sunroom experts in Canada and you’ll learn that people love installing sunrooms to help get them through the winter months. People install them as living space additions to receive better natural light and vitamin D. By working with the right manufacturer, you could have a new sunroom or solarium in no time. What better way to soak up those rays on a cold, winter day than in a cozy sunroom? Throw some plants in there, get a portable fireplace, and you’ll be set all winter long.

Helps You Sleep Better

Exposure to natural light has a significant impact on how your brain works, including your sleep patterns. Natural light plays a pivotal role in regulating circadian rhythm — your body’s internal clock that signals when it requires rest or when it needs to be alert. Light also largely controls the release of the sleep-promoting hormone called melatonin. Melatonin is responsible for regulating the body’s internal clock. If you spend the majority inside this winter, you’ll avoid natural light and risk developing poor sleep patterns.

Brightens and Opens Up Your Home

The more natural light you invite into your home, the more spacious and brighter it will feel. The winter can be a gloomy time because of the cold weather and feeling cooped up for so long. But by opening up your home to the outdoors with more window space, natural light will fill your home’s room with shining, warm sunlight and it will feel and appear bigger and brighter.

Before you settle in for the season, think about how natural light can drastically affect your physical and emotional health. Consider installing a sunroom and additional windows to create a bright and happy home — one where you can enjoy the benefits of natural light all year long.