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Let the Sunshine In: How Sunlight Brightens Your Mental Health

There’s a real, science-backed connection between catching those rays and feeling a bit more chipper.

Libby Winkler
3 min readMar 2, 2024
Photo by Daoudi Aissa on Unsplash

Let the Sunshine In: How Sunlight Brightens Your Mental Health

Ever noticed how a bright, sunny day can make your spirits soar?

It’s not just your imagination playing tricks on you. There’s a real, science-backed connection between catching those rays and feeling a bit more chipper.

The Sunny Side of Mental Well-being

First off, our bodies are like finely tuned, natural machines that respond to light in ways that influence our mood, sleep, and even our daily rhythms.

Here’s the scoop:

  • Vitamin D Boost: When sunlight kisses your skin, it’s not just a warm hug; it’s also helping your body create vitamin D. This powerhouse nutrient is crucial for bone health, immune function, and, yep, you guessed it, mood regulation. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to a higher risk of mood disorders, including depression.
  • Circadian Rhythms: Our bodies have internal clocks that help regulate sleep, appetite, and energy levels. Sunlight helps…

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Libby Winkler
Libby Winkler

Written by Libby Winkler

Freelance writer who loves exploring the messiness of humanity, while poking around in nooks of life and shining light on all the things that make us complex..

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