How Does Natural Sunlight in Our Homes Impact Us?
Wondering if it’s worth it to perform a few renos to increase the natural light in your home? Sunlight is a powerful thing that benefits our health and the interior of the home. It can help to improve our mood, sleep and make us feel happier with that dose of vitamin D. If you’re like most people, you likely spend almost 90% of your time indoors, which means you end up getting less exposure to fresh air and sun rays. Today, there’s a plethora of growing research that shows just how negatively this can impact our overall health and wellbeing. That’s why it’s always a worthy project to invest in when it comes to inviting more sunshine inside your home. Read on to learn more about how natural sunlight in our homes impact us. Save Energy And Money First off – more sunlight inside means a brighter, bigger looking home. And aside from it helping to create the illusion of more space, when done strategically, it can also help to heat and illuminate the space inside. This can equate to significant savings on your monthly energy bills since you won’t have to waste as much electricity. Reduce Anxiety and Stress Did you know that immersing yourself in 30 minutes of sunlight can help to soothe and calm your body and mind? It’s true! Studies have shown a significant link to this correlation and how natural light helps us cope better with stress and anxiety. So if you’re feeling pent up, think of how you can invite more of those sun rays in your home. Stay Focused If you work from a home office or dark cubicle, make sure to take frequent breaks to bask in some rays. Even looking out the window for a couple of minutes can help boost your sense of alertness, focus and productivity. Improve Sleep Having trouble sleeping? Increased exposure to sunshine daily can help to regulate our circadian rhythm and sleep patterns so you can feel rested and ready to take on your day. Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin D We all know that vitamin D is important for our body, but most of us don’t realize just how necessary it is. Vitamin D is essential for our health as it helps to regulate the vitality of our bones, immune system, skin, brain, cardiovascular system – and it’s involved in maintenance and function of over 200 genes throughout our body. By letting in more natural light into your home, you can ensure you’re getting that daily dose without having to worry. Keep Your Plants Alive Are you struggling to keep your plants alive? More light means a better environment for your plants to grow and flourish in. And since plants help to filter and detoxify the air, this will help keep your air quality at home fresher and healthier, which is especially beneficial if you suffer from allergies. Reduce Blood Pressure When you’re soaking in those glorious rays, your body is also undergoing chemical reactions that alter molecules like nitric oxide which lowers blood pressure. This in turn, also helps to lower the risk factor for heart attacks and strokes. Reduce Mold And Mildew Growth Mold and mildew spores thrive in dark, damp and humid environments. And it doesn’t take much for spores to surface. That’s why having a bright and airy home is important for reducing the likelihood of mold from growing in your home. These toxic spores can compromise your home and your health. More sunlight will help keep your home dry and mildew-free. Prevent SAD There are many people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which spurs up bouts of depression during the transition of seasons. Though there’s still much to learn about this condition, what researchers have found is the correlation between SAD and a decrease of serotonin and melatonin which contributes to an interruption in sleep patterns. This happens from our decreased exposure to natural light. So you see just how powerful and important it is to get in some sunlight every single day – especially during the fall and winter seasons. Improve Mood Ever heard of our “feel-good hormones”? Well, exposure to sunlight generates these hormones and sends them rushing through our bodies. These boost energy levels while making us feel happier. It also generates serotonin production in our brain, which helps regulate mood. If you’re ready to take on a home renovation project to increase the amount of natural sunlight in your home, contact us, or give us a call at (613)727-9427. Get reliable, expert service that you can depend on.
