Happy / SAD lights? I need some winter motivation

Hello, I realize there's some people really hurting here, I had that with lyme (dep/anz is common with that).

Now its very minimal and more like lite anxiety coupled with low motivation in winter. I take 5htp and a few herbs like passion flower for anxiety, but its almost non-existent after the holidays.

The low motivation is stealing my time away. Winter snow and cold and gloomy days make me want to couch a whole lot more, but not in a depressed way, just a lazy way. I never seem to get my to do list done,but - I don't imagine anyone who lives alone with in an older home and older vehicles never gets every thing completely done (?). Always one repair or maintenance item after another.

In the summer Im a very active person, but certainly not the energizer bunny, I go in spurts till I get tired and take a nap after work. I get burned out very easy. Being introverted makes tired around people too (from work), nothing I can fix there. And lyme disease changes the body to some extent sometimes forever. 90% healed is what most end up with.

I dont drink or use any rec drugs legal or not.

So, thats my intro, I might have posted here a long time ago, dont remember.

****Can these light help with motivation? Or are they only effective for the severely depressed? ***

I know lack of light turns on the meitonine sleep hormone. Im in very northern US, less daylight and cloudy when it is day. The late Feb sun (more sun, still cold) ,motivates me. I love spring and hate fall (short days).

Will using the light for ten min in the morning bathroom before work help? Not going to set the alarm earlier to sit by a light. Heard it said if you use them at night- it affects sleep, true? (makes sense).

thanks
waiting for spring

I say yes!

Dead of winter, 10min cleaning up the yard from my dog can make me feel better.

So to just stand out side would be beneficle, woth a coat of course

I also have take vitamin A in winter

Peace
Trina

I have used a SAD lamp for five years, which I clearly believe improves my depression. My symptoms are worse in the short winter days. I use mine for 45 minutes in the morning while I watch the news.

I would recommend getting a good quality lamp. Northern Lights Flamingo has worked well for me - about $200.

Thank for the replies.

I should have added I do outdoor winter trail sports /activities if its above 10F. on the weekends, which fels good once I talk myself into doing it .

Since I work full time with a commute, there is no daylight left in my free time during the week. I get AM daylight in the work parking lot for 20 seconds a day LOL
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1)Will using the light for ten min in the morning bathroom before work help? - since I need to get going in the AM, I wont be sitting around in front of anything, thats why I ask this
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2)Heard it said if you use them at night- it affects sleep. ..... Not true?

I try to be as Rx free as possible, although I realize thats not an option for some people. I was depressed when I had lyme disease which is a very common symptom (Lyme is common in the colder Great Lakes and NE States). After years of that, I'm now cured. This is different, its more lack of motivation and sleepyness, not depression, and only in winter.

thanks

Post Edited (astroman) : 1/8/2020 7:04:57 PM (GMT-7)

Tim G-
Thats a pretty cool invention, I will look into it more.

getting by-

Yes, I XC ski weather permitting. I snowshoe and winter fatbike too. Thats all fun if its above 10F and not windy (gets cold here), but no light to do that during a workweek; I need a daily dose.

But nothing beats more light.

Cant wait for a breezy sun filled summer 75F day on a lake. Or just coming home after work in the summer to sit on the front steps in daylight.

Maybe ill be a "snow bird" someday, the south is just to hot to live there in the summer, would be a nice winter escape though. Im a useless slug in hot humidity. Guess Im a "fair weather" critter.