Winter Blues

It’s been a pretty crazy winter so far. Below zero one day, and in the 60s a couple of days later. One thing that’s been consistent is that it’s been pretty grey with not a lot of sun, and this can give many of us the winter blues.

Have you ever been around people who, after an endless period of rainy, dark days will say, “I need some sunshine”. I know I am one of those people, and when I struggled with depression, it would really get me down.

One of the things I discovered that helped me was to use a full spectrum light to simulate sunshine. I found it eased my depression and my winter blues, but I also felt more energetic when I used it. Perhaps it was because I was being proactive and doing something to help myself, but studies have actually shown that the use of a full spectrum light can help us through the darker winter months.

I have three to suggest you check out if this is of interest to you. All are small and can fit on your desk or end table.

The first is the Aura® Day Light Therapy Lamp, 10,000 Lux of Bright Light White with Adjustable Lux Dial. I like this one because it has an adjustable dial so you can adjust the brightness of the lamp.

The second is the Verilux HappyLight Touch 10,000 Lux LED Bright White Light Therapy Table. This one has a timer as well as adjustable light intensity. This one doesn’t have a dial, but has several light intensity levels from which to choose. With the timer, you don’t have to worry about remembering to turn it off. Just set it and forget it as they say…

The third is a great choice if you are challenged for space. It’s the Circadian Optics Lumos 2.0 Light Therapy Lamp | Ultra Bright 10,000 Lux Full Spectrum LED Light, and it’s small enough to fit on any desk area.

If you’re feeling a little blue this winter, one of these lamps is a great tool to help you shake off the winter doldrums. Give one a try, and I hope you find them as helpful a tool as I do. By the way, even though I am no longer chronically depressed because of the way I eat, I still use my full spectrum light occasionally during the darker winter months.

If you’re interested in reading a bit more about depression, I encourage you to check out this post from my flagship website: http://thinstronghealthy.com/depression-and-the-gut-brain-connection/

Helping You Be Your Best You!

Cheryl A Major, CNWC