Posted on 22 Nov, 2011 -
My New Life as a Moth
How my new sunlight lamp is filling me with the joys of summer: I’m SO GLAD I finally got one!
Why do some of us get down in the winter and what can we do to feel better? Including good foods to eat
Dear Reader,
I have to tell you that over the past few days I have become like a moth. Or perhaps like a sunbather.
What has happened? I have finally got round to getting myself a Sunlight Lamp - to ward off the blues over the dark winter months.
For the past few years I have been thinking about it and writing about it but each year I have failed to treat myself. Somehow it is fine to spend money on ballet lessons and piano lessons and new shiny shoes for the kids. But spend money on something that might be crucial to increasing my own positive state of mind and health? Well… that would be terribly irresponsible!!
But this year I’ve thrown caution to the wind and I’ve got one. And guess what?
... It’s AMAZING!!!
As I sit here typing now I am bathed in a wonderful, bright white light that is very invigorating yet soothing and calming. While I love the autumn sunshine colour, it is never as light and euphoric as the summer sun. And every year, as the mornings and evenings grow so dark, I miss it something chronic.
By February I am a very different person to the one I am in August. But this year I’m hoping it may be different.
Because yes, I have become like a moth who loves to be sat smiling under my lamp. Or like a sunbather who is basking blissfully. Although unlike a sunbather, my wonderful new lamp makes me feel more energetic. Just as in the summer I feel lighter and more positive and I want to go out and exercise, this lamp really does put a spring in my step.
You can check out the good deal on the lamp I got here
Why some people get blue in the winter
Exposure to sunlight can have a huge impact on the amount of the ‘happy hormones’, serotonin and dopamine created in the body - especially for some people who are more prone.
The human body also uses light cues to time certain functions such as sleep, appetite, mood, digestion and energy. A combination of dark mornings and evenings mixed with electric lighting in the evening can confuse our body and unbalance our hormones.
How the sunlight lamps help
The sunlight lamps are used to rebalance your body and provide it with a substitute to the sunshine it craves. While real sunshine would obviously be better, few of us can afford to spend the winter flying off to the Caribbean. And you can hardly spend hours in the garden at this time of year with your sleeves or trousers rolled up!
Experts recommend you start by using a lamp for 30 minutes a day and within the first 4 hours of waking up. If, after a few weeks of using it you don’t notice much difference, increase the time to an hour.
It’s also recommended that if you have trouble getting up in the morning that you attach it to a timer so it’s on just before your alarm goes off and you wake up much, much better.
Sunlight lamps are also great for reducing eyestrain and for people who read or do crosswords or hobbies
Sunlight lamps create a wonderful bright yet soothing light that’s perfect for those who like reading or doing crosswords or those who have hobbies such as needlework or knitting.
The Sunlight lamp that I now have costs £59.95. I also liked this deal because they will refund your money if you find you don’t respond to light therapy during the first three months.
You can find out more about this sunlight therapy lamp here
What else can you do to stay chipper in the winter?
Get more sun! For those who can afford it, a winter break in the sunshine is said to make a huge difference to how you feel.
Get outside! It may be dark and dreary out there but you’ll still get some benefit from being outside, apparently.
Try a herbal or supplement as an anti-depressant. A 2006 National Institute of Mental Health study found that supplementing with the hormone melatonin helped lift winter depression. The herb St John’s Wort is also a highly effective natural cure for depression, without the side effects of prescription drugs.
It is also recommended that you take a vitamin D supplement and cod liver oil during the winter.
If it’s really serious, talk to your doctor. For some people, Season Affective Disorder is so strong that they may need to take an anti-depressant medication during the winter months.
Remain connected to your support system. When the cold and the dark set in, it can be tempting to stay in doors and huddle next to the radiator with a cup of cocoa. Our family and our social life, however, are a great source of happiness so we should keep on making an effort to go out and see people.
Make sure you’re eating well. It’s especially important in the winter to make sure that you support your system with the right nutrition. But what should you eat?
Here are a few blues-combatting foods to inspire your menu planning this week:
Kale is definitely a wonderful winter vegetable. It will do wonders for your immune system. Its anti-inflammatory properties will help ease joint pain, calcium keeps up your bone strength and the high fibre content is great for your energy, weight loss and digestion as well! Great in soups and stews!
Chilli is also a brilliant spice to add to your diet in the winter. In Chinese medicine it is used to speed up metabolism and make you feel brighter and more energetic. It is also believed to be effective in warding off colds.
Grilled bananas make a warming sweet dish that’s good for you in so many ways. They are a natural mood enhancer, can help prevent high blood pressure, and help relieve irritability and fatigue!
Asparagus contains a good supply of the kind of minerals and B vitamins that you may be lacking after the festive season. Great for mental and emotional health and a great ‘treat’ food to carry the festive feasting season well into the New Year.
Another lovely mood-boosting food is the avocado. Not only do they help increase the amount of happiness-promoting serotonin in your body, they also provide a healthy fat as an alternative to all those unhealthy ones that our bodies sometimes believe they really need!
Sweet potato is also a great cockle-warming treat. Bake it in the oven like a jacket potato (only for a little less time) and you have an instant savoury yet sweet treat that’s also really good for you. It’s vitamin B6 content helps prevent food cravings and relieves depression. By keeping blood sugar levels high it also helps prevent mood swings.
Best wishes for a wintry week
