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How to Use Light to Improve Your Health and Mood

DR. STACEY DENISE MOORE

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Modern lighting has completely transformed our lives. It has liberated us from reliance on the sun, allowing us to chase […]

Modern lighting has completely transformed our lives. It has liberated us from reliance on the sun, allowing us to chase away dark shadows with the flip of a switch.

Streetlights, windows, and headlights illuminate cities and towns even in the dead of night, and LEDs illuminate malls, offices, and homes. Our ability to harness light through the power of electricity has truly improved our lives.

But light can be used for much more than just illumination. It can also be used to improve eyesight, improve mood, and influence emotional health.

View over cozy outdoor terrace with outdoor string lights. Autumn evening on the roof terrace of a beautiful house with lanterns, digital ai art

The Effects of Different Lighting on Mood

Light, depending on its placement and type, can have a significant impact on your mood. I’ve listed several types of light that you can use to elicit specific emotions in your home.

  • Blacklight — This one-of-a-kind type of light emits a luminescent glow and amplifies a viewer’s emotions more than any other. Blacklights are commonly used in industry, nightclubs, and amusement parks due to their high-energy glow.
  • Directional Lighting — Directional lighting is lighting that is directed at a specific object or area of the room. This type of lighting can be used to highlight details. A light, for example, could be placed over a plaque to highlight its significance. A light positioned beneath an object and directed upward casts harsh shadows that elicit fear, surprise, or curiosity. This is why, when telling ghost stories around a campfire, people usually hold a flashlight under their chins.
  • Recessed Lighting — is directional lighting that is installed directly inside a ceiling, wall, or another surface. Typically, the bulb is round and surrounded by decorative trim. Recessed lighting creates vertical shafts of light, which can evoke feelings of dominance, pride, outrage, contempt, and awe.
  • Track Lighting — A track light is another type of directional light. This type of light is attached to a track, which allows for a variety of placements and positions. Track lighting can illuminate an object or a room in a variety of ways. A track light suspended from the ceiling, for example, can be moved along its track to illuminate specific elements such as a vase of flowers, a wall painting, or a bar top. Track lighting creates a cozy atmosphere in the room.
Pretty young woman sitting on grey sofa and using laptop in light living room

Light’s Impact on Emotional Health

Light has an impact on your mental, biological, and emotional health. It has a direct impact on your mood and productivity.

Reading or working in poor lighting will not only harm your eyesight but will also make you less interested in your job. Proper lighting in a room or workplace can improve your mood and energy levels, motivating you to work harder.

Poor lighting has also been linked to depression due to vitamin D deficiency. The sun’s vitamin D3 is essential for maintaining your mental health.

Use Light to Improve Your Health and Mood

Good Lighting Improves Your Vision

Your eyes are extremely delicate body parts that send images to your brain. Your brain cannot read these images without proper lighting, resulting in headaches and eye strain. It is critical to choose lighting that will not harm your eyes.

I recommend only using LED lights, which are equivalent to natural light, and avoiding fluorescent and metal halide lighting. Use the proper size bulbs and position them in a way that reduces glare into your eyes, or use dimmer switches. Use natural light as much as possible during the day.

You can make better lighting decisions in your home and office if you understand how light affects your mood, emotional health, and eyesight.

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