6 ways natural light benefits our health

Natural light is a popular term among estate agents, with good reason. Besides illuminating a home or workplace and making it pleasant, natural light can affect our health in ways we may not realise.

Many of us would like to spend more time outdoors, but work commitments and weather mean we spend most of the day indoors. Office workers, whether working from home or in an office, prefer natural sunlight to fluorescent lighting. Many even consider it essential for productivity.

We know that choosing the right windows is an important design decision for your home or workplace, but it can also benefit our health. Below are 6 ways natural light affects our health.

Natural sunlight can increase melatonin levels, reducing stress and anxiety. Strategically positioned windows and doors in your home or office can help reduce everyday stressors by allowing you to absorb the natural sunlight streaming in.

Better sleep comes when our circadian rhythm (our internal biological rhythm) is regulated. But how can we regulate it? With greater access to natural light. When we let bright light in during the morning or expose ourselves to more natural light during the day, our bodies naturally signal when it is time to sleep at night. 

We naturally produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D offers many health benefits, including maintaining strong bones and reducing inflammation. It also strengthens immunity, leading us to the next health benefit.

The winter blues are a reality for many people, but exposure to natural light can help. When days become shorter and winter weather generally gloomier, natural light can ease symptoms of seasonal depression. Sunlight exposure increases serotonin levels, improving your mood.

All the benefits of a successful day come from increased serotonin levels, improving mood, productivity and focus. A heightened sense of alertness makes it easier to tackle everyday tasks and activities.

Prolonged exposure to artificial lighting is known to cause eye strain, so more windows providing natural light in a room can be better for your eyes. We all know how prolonged use of computers, laptops or smartphones feels and how it can affect our eyes. More natural light exposure can combat eye strain and help your vision.