Best Light Therapy Lamp For Winter Blues

Suffering from the winter blues? You’re not alone. If you’re like millions of Americans, you likely have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which affects up to twenty percent of the population each year in the northern hemisphere. Typically during winter months from November through March. Light therapy is an effective treatment for SAD. Light therapy treats depression and other mood disorders by exposing a person to certain types of light for a prescribed amount of time during their day. Let’s take a look at the benefits of Light Therapy and the best light therapy lamp to help with your winter blues.

Lastar Light Therapy Lamp

The Lastar Light Therapy Lamp (CM003) is a 10,000 LUX sun lamp with a 10-60 minute timer, 5 adjustable brightness levels, and easy touch control. It’s the very lamp I’ve been using every winter for the past two years. There are many different light therapy lamps on the market so you can find the one that’s right for you and your space.

Create The “Sun” Indoors

For the Lastar model that I have, it has10,000 lux intensity that delivers 6500K light, completely UV-free, with flicker-elimination technology and optic-glare control lens lighting. This dispels winter blues, boost your mood, and support a healthy sleep cycle.

Adjustable Brightness

Broad Surface Design: With a broad surface to project the light from, the lamp provides a full dose of light from 20 inches away, so as to help brighten up your office space and give you a boost of energy when you’re stuck indoors all day.

Countdown Timer

This model features a countdown timer that lets you set the lamp to stay on for ten-minute increments up to an hour, and when the timer is done, the lamp shuts off automatically.

Portable and Practical

The lamp’s symmetrical, square build makes it so that it is small and discreet enough to fit into just about any space and easy to take on-the-go, and is sure to help you feel energized throughout your day.

Do Light Therapy Lamps Work?

Light therapy uses bright light to help treat SAD. The treatment works by stimulating the brain’s hypothalamus region, which then releases serotonin. This results in increased mental clarity, improved energy, and improved mood. In addition, light therapy reduces melatonin secretion. Making it easier to fall asleep at night. If you’re suffering from SAD symptoms such as fatigue, lethargy and irritability, a light therapy lamp can be an effective treatment option.

Light Therapy For Winter Blues - The Daily DIY — Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

How To Use Light Therapy Lamps

Light therapy can benefit you most from November to March. It’s best to start in early Fall when the days become shorter and the sun is out less. It’s always best to talk to your doctor if you have questions about if light therapy is right for you, and how long to do it each day.

Proper placement of your light therapy lamp during your sessions is key. You sit in front of a light therapy box during your working time, while reading a book, or watching TV. The light from the light therapy box must enter your eyes indirectly. Never look in to the light therapy lamp directly as it could damage your eyes.

Light Therapy Lamp Positioning on your desk for best results

A 10,000 LUX light box is best to treat SAD. Place the box on a table and off to the side. Don’t sit too close, as you want to place the lamp about 16-24″ away from your face. You don’t need much time, between 20-30 minutes daily is enough. According to Mayo Clinic, light therapy is most effective in the morning, after you first wake up.

Although light therapy lamps are generally safe to use, there can be problems if you have a condition, or are on medications that increases your skins sensitivity to light. Speak to your doctor to ensure light therapy is right for you.

In conclusion, while light therapy won’t be a cure for SAD, it should help to ease your symptoms. Light therapy is a tried and true treatment that has helped millions of people, and it’s an affordable and accessible option for anyone with Seasonal Affective Disorder. Whether you choose to use this particular light, or another brand name, you’re sure to reap the benefits that have made light therapy so popular.