Want to Feel Better FAST? Shirley Meerson Says Morning Light Boosts Mood and Immune System, Lowers Stress and Helps You Sleep Better.
By Shirley Meerson, CHWC, CBT ~ NABBW’s Ageless Wellness Lifestyle Associate
A little sunshine goes a long way. How would you like a natural mood boost combined with greater alertness? The happiness, the light, the cheerfulness, the joy and sparkles that comes via sunlight are so important for our mind and body. You might call it Self-Care 101!
Indeed, the morning light is medicinal and magical.
At this time in our lives – self-care is so important. Shirley personally uses and recommends that a good dose of morning light should be an integral part of everyone’s ageless wellness lifestyle toolbox.
Here’s a simple strategy and a real physiological human need. Start your day with sincere attention to improving and stabilizing your mood. Taking care to strengthen your circadian clock will have a huge benefit on your health and wellbeing.
Your mental wellness – your wellbeing.
Here’s what to do and why.
Start by getting yourself to a window.
Open your curtains or shades to let the light in. That will shut down the sleep hormone, melatonin. This allows your body’s natural circadian rhythm to know that you’re awake now and to supply you with alertness. Goodbye to melatonin – which we like at night but not in the morning. Melatonin is the ‘go to sleep’ hormone.
In the morning – I also suggest opening the window a bit, in order to smell and feel the air. This will allow the light to bathe you. Of course, it’s weather dependent.
The body’s circadian rhythm — basically, its internal clock — likes regularity and schedules. That means many of the body processes, like sleep, hormones, mood, and appetite are affected by this circadian rhythm.
What is optimal is, if you can wake up at the same time each morning even on weekends. When the rhythms are off – people experience groggy mornings, less energy, and difficulty falling asleep at night.
With a disrupted circadian clock there may be an increase of moods, possible depression, your defense mechanisms don’t work as well, or more metabolic disorders.
The morning light is medicinal = it’s magical.
Getting natural light before noon will help you sleep better at night. The more daylight exposure enhances your body’s capability to produce melatonin at night.
When exposed to morning light, the body also releases hormones that are linked to an improved mood. Sounds fabulous to me.
When light tells the brain to shut down melatonin production, the brain can release more neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine which can make people feel good. What’s not to love?😊
The light also instructs our brain to crank up the production of the hormone cortisol, activating your your brain for the coming day.
Work this light therapy plan into your daily routine. Going for a walk would be a “two for one” benefit, since you’re also getting physical activity — movement is always good. Another idea is to sit on the patio while reading in the morning or having breakfast.
What if the day is overcast with clouds? Even when filtered through clouds or rain, the sunlight will continue to have its effect.
Bottom line – plain and simple: people need to wake up with morning light. And to be on a schedule of a consistent wake time.
Your lifestyle, the habits you bring into each day – set the tone for your Quality of Life. If you’d like to explore ways to upgrade your Ageless Wellness Lifestyle habits, I’d be happy to be your mentor on the journey. Please contact me by this form. I provide custom programs either online or in-person and at businesses instructing on living the ageless wellness lifestyle.
