I struggle in the mornings. I really do.

I feel sluggish, I have cravings to constantly hit the snooze button several times. Essentially, as I’m sure you can gather, I’m not a morning person. Far more of a night owl.

I also hate the winter. I hate the lack of proper daylight that streams in through the windows in the spring and summer. It depresses me totally. That makes me feel more sluggish and unproductive, which isn’t great when you’re self employed.

For a long long time, people have raved about Lumie SAD lights that combat SAD syndrome and the winter blues. The syndrome is, thanks to the description on Wikipedia:

“Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, winter blues, summer depression, summer blues, or seasonal depression, is a mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer….”

So, for Christmas, I asked for the Lumie Bodyclock, which is a bedside clock/radio with gradually brightening light. And this light essentially replicates a natural sunrise, and totally programmable to whatever you desire. I wake up to a gradual sunrise over a period of 45mins, and eventually results in a sound. However, I’ve only woken to the sound 3 times since using it (every morning). The science behind it is meant to decrease levels of melatonin, the sleep hormone, gradually to bring you round to being fully refreshed.

And, I have to say, it absolutely works. I promise you. I was sceptical initially, thinking it can’t be that good. But it truly is, I’ve slept so much better, and more importantly, woken a lot better, bright eyed and bushy tailed, feeling completely refreshed and not remotely groggy. (Incidentally, the reverse works at bedtime, having the light on as a bedside light, it can gradually fade as a sunset, helping you become more sleepy.)

Since I had the Bodyclock, which has revolutionalised my sleep patterns, I ended up buying the desklamp to give me boosts when I’m working. And again, I can’t sing it’s praises high enough. It’s like having a proper dose of sunshine streaming in at you. Using this periodically for 30mins or so throughout the day is a real boost, helps productivity and alertness, and generally I feel so much better. I really recommend you look at these lamps if you suffer like I do. It can make drastic changes!

Let me be clear here – this blog post isn’t a paid for testimonial by Lumie, I’m not officially endorsing it for bribes or freebies etc! This is just me, my opinion, as a greatly satisfied customer and user. Light therapy sounds ‘wishy washy’ to say the least, as I originally thought. But try it.

You’ll thank me later.

What about you? Do you suffer with SAD? How do you combat it?