How Sunlight Impacts Your Mood

Poets write about it. Scholars muse about it. Musicians sing about it. The sun gives us life, the four seasons, and is the star which our whole solar system orbits around. We can gather from the nature of our heliocentric universe that the sun is an essential part of life, a deliverer of vibrancy, joy, and vitality. We know that being out in the sunshine makes us feel good. Simply put, bright natural light lights us up, seeming to both warm our bodies and lift our spirits. Sunlight boosts serotonin, which is a natural hormone that regulates appetite and mood. Additionally, there’s the fact that a stroll in the high noon sun will increase your Vitamin D levels, which more and more studies are showing to be a necessary part of mental and physical health. Some people even suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) in the winter months when there’s a lack of sun exposure. While sun lamps are an option, nature is always best and the easiest way to boost mood via sunshine is to enjoy nature.

Studies have consistently shown the positive impacts that regular sunlight has on mood, revealing that those who suffer from depression, anxiety-related disorders, panic attacks, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) can see improvements with regular sun exposure. Natural light has gotten a bad rap due to skin cancer risks. However, studies show that small amounts of direct sunlight (15-30 minutes daily) actually work to prevent cancer. Napoleon Bonaparte boldly declared, “If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my god.”

RedCliff Ascent is a therapeutic wilderness program, nestled between two mountain ranges in the high desert of Enterprise, UT. We focus on adolescents ages 13-17 who are struggling with various challenges from anxiety and depression, to school abandonment and the need to reconnect with their family. With over 25 years of experience, RedCliff uses a relational model and narrative therapy to drive an outcome and an evidence-based approach. RedCliff Recovery offers an experience like no other through a proven, 12-step, adventure-based wilderness program. For more information, call us today: 801-921-8488.