The seasonal affective disorder may affect one in every three adults in the United Kingdom, making them unhappy and fatigued throughout the winter months. SAD lamp patients typically have low energy and motivation, disturbed sleep, lethargy, and low spirits, all of which are induced by the decrease in light levels throughout the winter. However, a decent SAD lamp might help to alleviate the symptoms. A SAD lamp or light box is intended to simulate the natural outside light that the winter months and to elicit a similar physiological reaction in users.
What will you see here?
Lumie Vitamin L: SAD lamp
Lumie’s Vitamin L SAD Lamp is compact, light, and simple enough to fit in with any decor. It’s quite bright, but because of its rippling form, it’s not harsh. It can illuminate an entire bedroom or large living area if you want it to. For maximum exposure, the entire broad rectangular surface is illuminated.
The lamp must be plugged in, but the wire is long enough that it may be placed on a bedside table or a desk. The kickstand allows it to stand in portrait mode. Also, the only touch or control is an on/off button on the rear.
The effects of the light will differ from person to person, making it difficult to say whether or not it will work for you, but 30 minutes when getting ready for work made us feel considerably more awake and alert in the mornings.
It’s one of the most reasonably priced SAD lights. But others with bigger price tags sometimes incorporate alarm clocks and wake-up functions, but this is a plain, uncomplicated solution.
Lumie Zest SAD & wake-up light
The Lumie Zest has two functions. It functions as both a SAD lamp and a wake-up light. This little specialized SAD light box has an output of up to 10,000 lux and adjustable brightness settings to suit your preferences. You may set it to a variety of brightness and timing settings for light treatment, and use the adjustable stand to angle it towards your face for the most effective light therapy.
The wake-up light features a snooze function and a sunrise timer that lasts 15 or 30 minutes. The blue-enriched white LEDs simulate natural sunshine entering your home, making it a nice light to wake up to. You can select an optional buzzing alarm, but you cannot select various relaxing sounds as you can with specialized wake-up lights.
The Lumie Zest must be plugged in at all times, but because it is so compact, you may simply move it around your home. It may not have all of the functionality of specialized goods. But this small hybrid packs a punch – and, most crucially, it is a class 2a medical device.
Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300: SAD lamp
This alarm is more pricey, but with good cause. Lumie’s Bodyclock Shine 30 is a full-featured light alarm. It provides fine-grained control over your wake-up and bedtime rituals, with a variety of sound and light settings available.
It includes mixed LEDs that beam mixes of white, orange, and red to give a genuine sunshine impression that isn’t too blinding, and it can gradually grow and drop at up to 20 various light levels over 15-90 minutes.
While it’s largely marketed as a wake-up alarm, it’s also medically approved for light therapy. If you’ve been diagnosed with SAD, you’ll definitely still want a specific SAD light box, but a light alert is a useful supplement, providing an energy boost when you need it the most. The highest brightness scale for 30 minutes and noticed that awoke naturally. If you don’t think you’ll awaken using the light alone, set an alarm at the conclusion of that time period.
The alarm may be set to sound or to play one of the preset noises. Which include a steam train, ping pong, waves, or the built-in FM radio. Unfortunately, if you switch it off at the mains, all the settings are reverted to the factory, and the unit’s buttons make it difficult to set up. However, once up and going, it’s a fantastic product.
Lumie SAD Desklamp
This Lumie SAD lamp also functions as a table lamp. It includes four brightness levels that you can cycle through simply pressing the base, but no other functions such as calendars or alarms are included. This may disappoint some given that the Desklamp costs more than £100.
The design is simple in comparison to other SAD lights, with an adjustable head, and offers a high-quality finish. It is not battery powered, thus it must be plugged in to be used. The Desklamp has a very serious and clinical design. It was also somewhat substantial.
The light itself, on the other hand, is clear and brilliant at 10,000 lux at maximum intensity, making it a wonderful study or work lamp if you wanted to include it in your daily life. It includes a removable diffuser. Lumie suggests sitting underneath the light for 60 min per day or 30 minutes per day without the diffuser.
Philips EnergyUp Energy SAD light lamp
It is not fair to include the Philips EnergyUp Energy Lamp in this list because it is not the same as the others. It will neither wake you up from a nice slumber with a phony sunrise and bird noises nor will it soothe you off to sleep.
The EnergyUp light, on the other hand, delivers exactly as it says just on the tin. Instead, it’s intended to offer you a surge of energy throughout the day. This is ideal if you already have a wake-up light at home but want something for your workplace or kitchen countertop. Wherever else to keep your energy levels up.
It emits 10,000 lux of light, which is equivalent to an ordinary day outside. It provides it in the form of bright light, which keeps you energized, and the best part is that Philips claims you only need to wear it for 20-30 minutes every day to experience the energy-boosting advantages.
Philips Wake-Up Light HF3520
The Philips HF3520 is possibly the most visually appealing wake-up light on this list, as well as one of the top overall performers. It is round on a conical base and emits a warm glowing light with 20 strength levels, ranging from mild ember to a room-filling explosion.
The HF3520’s steady light steps were organically graded, delivering a pleasant start to the day. Also with two independent alarm slots and five natural wake-up noises.
A simple tap of the light activates the alarm, which is a great touch. However, the additional controls, which are sprinkled throughout the outer ring or are touch-sensitive on the front face, might be a little difficult, especially when programming different settings. For the first few days, keep the instruction handbook nearby.
This Philips light is marred by one flaw that otherwise mars an otherwise amazing device. The radio function becomes increasingly distorted as the intensity of its light increases.
Are SAD lamps good for you?
SAD lamps mimic sunshine, which causes the brain to release dopamine, often known as the feel-good hormone. Light treatment in times when daylight hours are limited has been shown in studies to assist reset your circadian, the body’s method for regulating your snooze cycle.
Do SAD lamps work with eyes closed?
Place the light box on a table or counter where you can sit comfortably. You must be properly positioned, therefore follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the distance to the lightbox. While sitting beneath the lights, you can read or eat. But your eyes have to be opened for the effect take occur.
Conclusion
In parts of the world where the clocks have gone back, the winter nights are drawing in, and frost covers the ground most mornings, it can be difficult to drag yourself out of bed. Especially when you see such little sunlight first thing on the way to work and at the end of the day when you’re departing.
This time of year is challenging for many folks. Perhaps your mood is a touchdown, or you lack the vitality you typically have during the summer. Although this is common when the seasons change, it might also indicate that you have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
