Fall brings cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and something else we notice every day: less daylight.
As we move toward winter, mornings become darker and the sun sets earlier. For those who already spend much of the day indoors, that can mean even less exposure to natural daylight.
Fall is a great time to be more intentional about the light in your daily routine—and to consider incorporating light therapy into your wellness habits.
Make the Most of Daylight
Whenever possible, take advantage of natural light during the day. Open your curtains in the morning, spend a few minutes outside, take a walk, or enjoy your lunch outdoors.
Even small opportunities to experience natural daylight can become meaningful parts of your routine.
Bring Bright Light Indoors
Busy schedules, weather, and shorter days don’t always make it easy to get outside. A bright light therapy lamp can be incorporated into an indoor morning wellness routine.
Try using your lamp while you:
- Enjoy your morning coffee
- Eat breakfast
- Read
- Journal
- Plan your day
Always follow your light therapy device’s manufacturer’s instructions for proper positioning, distance, duration, and use.
Start Your Routine Before Winter
You don’t have to wait until the days are at their shortest to start paying attention to your light exposure. Beginning a routine in the fall gives you time to find what works best for your schedule and make it a consistent habit.
A simple routine might look like:
Wake up → Open the curtains → Get some natural daylight → Use your light therapy lamp → Start your day
The most important part is finding a routine that’s realistic and easy to maintain.
Brighten Your Fall Routine
As the days get shorter, make light an intentional part of your day. Spend time outdoors when you can, maximize natural light indoors, and consider adding light therapy to your morning wellness routine.