Light and Mood

Since our early ancestors, light and mood have been deeply connected. The Fall Equinox and fall harvest is the annual gathering of mature crops at the end of the agricultural growing season. The tradition is rooted in gratitude and community, celebrating nature's bounty and providing food to last through the colder winter months. 

Significance and Traditions

For generations, the fall harvest has been a pivotal time for farming communities around the world. 

• Gratitude and celebration: The season is associated with abundance and giving thanks for the culmination of many months of hard work.

• Cultural festivals: Numerous cultures have developed their own harvest traditions and festivals, such as Thanksgiving in North America, Oktoberfest in Germany, and the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.

• A time of transition: The harvest symbolizes a natural cycle of growth, reaping, and renewal. It marks the transition from summer's growth to winter's dormancy, and the gathering of food reflects a broader theme of preparation and storing up for the future. 

Ways to celebrate the harvest season

The essence of the harvest can be enjoyed through a variety of activities. 

• Make seasonal recipes: Prepare comforting fall meals and baked goods, such as roasted root vegetables, apple pie, or pumpkin bread.

• Decorate with nature: Use natural elements like pumpkins, gourds, dried corn, and colorful leaves for a festive atmosphere.

• Share your bounty: Give away any extra produce you've grown or cooked with to friends, family, or a food pantry. 

• Organize and declutter: Get a fresh start by switching up your summer clothes for warmer weather materials and letting go of items that no longer serve you.

Prepare for Fall and Winter by Transforming Your Space for Seasonal Wellness

Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder while bringing light to the darker months and creating a space that supports mood and health can combat depression. As the weather turns colder and the days get shorter, people experience shifts in their mood and energy. For some, the seasonal transition brings more than the usual winter blues; it triggers a deeper, recurring struggle known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This condition, tied to the rhythms of nature, occurs in the autumn and winter months when the lack of sunlight disrupts our internal balance. SAD stems from a disruption in the body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, which is influenced by the brains reaction to natural light. The absence of sufficient sunlight can reduce the production of serotonin, a hormone that stabilizes mood, and melatonin, which governs sleep. SAD can cause one to feel a lack of energy, poor concentration, increased appetite and need for more sleep, and increased desire for isolation, and lower mood.

To Combat SAD, fill your home with Light, Love, & Purpose

Did you know you can create an environment that counters the effects of SAD and nurtures your wellbeing?

Bring Light, Life, & Nature into your Space

• Bring Nature Indoors by filling your home with live plants or natural wood or rock elements

• Warm up Your Space with Vibrant Colors: Create a warm color collage with leaves from nature

• Create Room for Movement Indoors with a designated yoga or stretching area: movement increases our mood & mental health

• Stay Connected to Family & Friends and Combat Isolation: by creating communal places in your home for shared eating, talking and relaxing.

Let There Be Light!

Add Light to Your Home

Maximize the use of natural light in your home by capturing sunlight or drawing back shades and heavy curtains. Mirrors can be placed to amplify light in bright spaces as well. Lamps and lights, although artificial, can mimic the benefits of natural lights and subtly shift the atmosphere of your home and boost mood.

Light Therapy Lamps for SAD

Light therapy lamps emit bright, full-spectrum light designed to replicate sunlight. Morning exposure to 10,000 lux of light for an average of one hour per day can lead to reduction of depressive symptoms and improve energy and mood.

Different Light Therapy Options

 

The Loftie Clock

Gradual rise of natural light easing you into wakening. It doubles as a white noise machine and a guided meditation device, promoting restful sleep that is often disrupted by SAD.

Hatch Restore 2

This combines light therapy with soundscapes and guided routines to create a multi-sensory experience aimed at improving mood and sleep.

Lumie Halo

The Lumie Halo has customizable settings for brightness and color temperature, tailored to your needs. It looks stylish integrated into your household décor.

SkyView

The SkyView utilizes a patented light engine to mimic the essential cues we receive from natural light. By adjusting wavelengths and intensity, it interacts with melanopsin, a photopigment in our eyes that helps regulate our internal rhythms. This innovative technology supports the balance of mind and body, enhancing focus, improving mood, and promoting restful sleep.

So You Can Lighten Your Mood this Fall & Winter

While the seasons will continue their inevitable rhythm, respond with a body that stays in sync and counter Seasonal Affective Disorder. Prioritize color, togetherness, warmth, nature, and light in your home space. Make your living space a nurturing refuge from the outdoor elements and transform your wellbeing.