Get past the glass!
Learn the benefits of getting past the glass and into the great outdoors for your wellbeing.
The summer is upon us, giving us ample opportunity to celebrate the summer sun and get past the glass. Did you know being in doors, behind glass and away from natural daylight, can have a significant impact on our mental health? In this article we’ll be exploring the benefits of being out in our beautiful world, the tried and tested ways of making the most of it’s rewards to your health and the significance of getting past the glass. Learn about just how important unobstructed rays of sunlight are to our skin, in this piece by local Ian.
During the time of year where the days get shorter and colder we tend to spend less time outside and experience a negative impact to our mental health, with few getting enough natural daylight by living behind glass windows.
We have been reading a fascinating book by Linda Geddes called ‘Chasing the Sun’. A brilliant analysis of how our biology is set up to respond to sunlight, and the importance of getting sun rays.
Did you know that it’s not just the warmth of the sun that makes us feel good, with identified benefits by medical science those with greater sun exposure have been shown to have better sleep, longer life expectancy, less cardiovascular disease, and less diabetes type 2.
Greater sun exposure is also attributed to lowering blood pressure, calming the immune system and most importantly to us, improvement of mood, supposedly due to endorphin release and vitamin D production. Endorphins are feel-good hormones, and so we often crave sunlight in the darkest winter months. Interestingly sun into the eyes has been shown to change hormones through changes in the hypothalamus region of the brain – which controls functions like mood.
Our pets seem to know this instinctively, have you noticed how your cat or dog loves lying in the sun?
Whilst you get some benefit from sitting inside in a sunlit room, studies show light through a glass window reduces in strength, known as the illuminance, which is measured in units of lux. So, if you’re out on a clear day in winter the illuminance is typically around 2,000lux, whilst an indoor brightly lit room might only be about 300lux.
Linda Geddes’ book also discusses the condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and the winter blues which an estimated 2% of people in the UK, suffer from. This type of depression is linked to low levels of light experienced in the winter months, with 20% of people having less profound low mood symptoms, known as the winter blues, or sub-syndromal SAD.
In these conditions, the body generates fewer endorphins and Vitamin D, producing more melatonin and less serotonin, making you sleepier in the day, experience lower energy, greater carbohydrate cravings and prone to low mood/depression.
So again, the message is Get Past the Glass! If it’s a particularly chilly period wrap yourself up and go for a daily walk, with 9-10am being the optimum period. Try light therapy by getting a ‘light box’- a unit that generates synthetic sunlight- and sitting in front of it for a set period each day.
The message is, at this time of the year, regularly get outside in the daylight, past the glass, and see what this simple act can do for your mental wellbeing!
For more information see Treatment – Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – NHS (www.nhs.uk). Also, consider taking a Vitamin D supplement during winter as recommended by the NHS: Vitamins and minerals – Vitamin D – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Would you like to contribute content?
Would you like to contribute content to our website and share insightful stuff that will benefit the mental health and wellbeing of our community? Get in touch! We’d love to have you participate in sharing information about taking care of our health and wellbeing. We’ll support you throughout the process, from brainstorming the initial idea to sending your content live, to make this a fun and enjoyable experience. Let’s collaborate!
Contact brand@tynesidemind.org.uk
