An Aperture on Improving Your Health And Well-Being.
Did you know that natural light provides illumination guidelines that are aimed to minimize disruption to the body's circadian system, enhance productivity, support good sleep quality, and provide appropriate visual acuity where needed?
How does it work?
Exposure to natural light, especially in the morning, helps regulate the body's circadian rhythm, which is the internal clock that regulates many physiological processes, including the sleep-wake cycle. When we expose ourselves to bright light in the morning, it signals to our bodies that it's time to wake up and start the day.
As the day progresses, the body's production of melatonin decreases, and exposure to bright light during the day can help suppress the production of melatonin. Then, as it gets dark in the evening, the body's production of melatonin increases, signaling to the body that it's time to sleep.
Why we should welcome sunlight back into our homes.
Sunlight triggers the release of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, and has been linked to improved mental health. Lack of sunlight exposure, on the other hand, has been linked to seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that typically occurs in the winter months.
Natural light is also a free and renewable source of energy. By letting more sunlight into your home, you can reduce your reliance on artificial lighting and potentially lower your energy bills.
Did you know that sunlight will also reduce the production of harmful bacteria and organisms that can grow in any house? It is recognized as a natural disinfectant. Amazing right?
Overall, welcoming sunlight back into our lives and homes can have numerous physical and mental health benefits, as well as environmental and economic advantages.
Now – how can you maximize sunlight in your spaces?
If you want to get the most out of your home, be sure to optimize the amount of sunlight or natural light in your living and working spaces from early morning to bedtime. An ideal dwelling will be planned with openings (windows) oriented to fully exploit the amount of daylight in a room thus contributing to enhanced balance and well-being.
About the direction of your home.
Well, it turns out that the direction in which you build your house can actually make a big difference in how you feel and how much energy you have. If your home faces the right directions, it can help you avoid winter blues, sleep better, and generally feel more energized.
In our northern hemisphere, whether you’re building, buying, or renting, you should consistently make sure your home living and working spaces face the southeast, south, or southwest direction - the sleeping rooms/ areas where light is not required can face north. Getting the east morning sunrise shining into the breakfast and living rooms is always preferable.
For example: if you have a small apartment with one room facing north and another facing east, try to rearrange things so that one of these rooms faces south instead.
Related Articles:
Why morning light is so crucial to your health by BBC Ideas.
Designing Your Home for Maximum Natural Lighting – Utah State University.
15 Reasons you need as much natural lighting in your home as possible – Elemental Green.
10 Benefits of natural light in architecture – RTK Rethink The Future