The best SAD therapy lamps to remedy the blues this season
The worst part of the winter isn’t the rain, snow, or bitter temperatures. After all, we can stay indoors and whack up the heating. The worst part is having to endure those short days and dark nights. Surely we can all agree that it sucks.
It’s so draining to go about your day without a single bit of sunlight, and it can be especially tough on office workers who spend every daylight hour stuck inside. It’s a struggle getting out of bed in the morning, let alone actually doing something productive or leisurely after the working day is finished.
It’s not all doom and gloom, because there are devices that can help. You don’t need to suffer through six months of darkness when SAD therapy lamps are available from a wide range of brands for every budget. These can help to alleviate the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder for those who aren’t getting enough natural light.
What is seasonal affective disorder?
Just as it sounds — and appropriately shortened to SAD — seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. It usually affects people during the winter months, causing sufferers to feel low, lethargic, anxious, or irritable.
What causes seasonal affective disorder?
According to the NHS guidelines, the cause of seasonal affective disorder is not fully understood though it’s usually linked to the lack of sunlight, which may prevent the brain from producing certain hormones or upset your body clock.
How does light therapy work?
Spending around 30 minutes in front of a light is thought to reduce the effects of SAD by simulating sunlight, which can encourage your brain produce melatonin and serotonin to help with your sleep and moods. The NHS recommends light therapy as one of standard treatments for seasonal affective disorder.
What does lux mean?
You’ll see this term a lot when shopping for therapy lamps. Lux is the unit of measurement for light intensity. According to some research, a light intensity of 2,500 can improve your wellbeing. Most of the lights listed below have a lux of up to 10,000.
How big are light therapy lamps?
While the desired effects are essentially all the same — a means of getting some light on you — they do come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are portable, which allows you to take them wherever you go — particularly into the office, where a healthy amount of light can be hard to come by — while others are made to stay in a fixed spot.
What is the best SAD therapy lamp?
It’s up to you to decide the lamp that works best for your lifestyle. But we’ve done the hard work of researching to help shine a light on the very best models.
These are the best SAD therapy lamps for 2023.
