Oh. My. god. Where are you spring? My beautiful city is buried in snow!
I absolutely love Boston and I’m so happy to be back home, but this winter has been intense- even for seasoned New Englanders. Perhaps it’s a combination of my first winter back from the balmy South, or that Mother Nature decided this city should bear the brunt of the bad weather across the country that has me a bit out of sorts. And as active as I am, the winter doldrums keep creeping up on me. I’m sure I’m not alone on this. I know we’re all probably all ready for the warm, long sunny days to finally arrive in the 617 (ahem…where are they?!).
While I’ve been doing my best to be kind and practice self care, I need a little something extra.Typically when the winter blues would kick in, I’d hop on a plane and briefly escape to a warm and sunny location far away from the cold and snow. Unfortunately I don’t think a quick retreat is in the cards for me this winter as I’m wrapped up in an awesome new branding project at work. I have to try something different this time, because exercise, eating healthy, and sleep alone just aren’t cutting it for me these days.
One of my dear friends recommended that I try a “happy light”. Actually- it wasn’t so much as a recommendation, rather, “if you don’t order this light on Amazon by 6PM tonight I am doing it for you and will invoice you.” Okay- point taken! My new “happy light” arrived tout suite thanks to Amazon Prime. I’m actually using it as I write this post.
What exactly is a “happy light”, you ask? It’s an energy lamp for light therapy that transmits 10,000 Lux, providing a natural glow to emulate extra natural sunlight. Sunlight ranges from 32,000 to 100,000 Lux. It’s purpose is to help ease Seasonal Affect Disorder (aka- SAD- ironic, huh?) – to enhance your mood, boost your energy, and curb food cravings. Thanks to Wikipedia, I discovered that Lux- in short- is a measurement of how light is emitted. According to various product reviews and sources, it seems as though you should sit in front of a “happy light” for about 20-30 minutes a day for at least ten days straight to feel different. There are various claims of what light therapy can and cannot do- which I won’t get into, but since I’m already actively taking steps to fight SAD, I figured it was worth a try.
I’m going to bring my happy light into work since that’s most likely where I’d be sitting for regular periods of time to benefit most from its energy. I told my co-workers about my “happy light” and they were very supportive- if not excited about this idea. I think they’re hoping to gain some benefits from my lamp, too.
Here’s hoping that my new “happy light” helps me #RadiateDaily a bit more until the warm and sunny days arrive. How are you fighting off the winter blues?
