fbpx

Get sunlight first thing in the morning

Written by:

What are your mornings like? Are you a jump-out-of-bed-take-a-shower-and-head-out-the-door-to-work type person? Maybe you’re a snooze-button-hitter. Perhaps you’re somewhere in between, adding in a healthy breakfast before hitting the grindstone. How often do you make sure that you get some direct sunlight first thing in the morning? It’s a lot more important than you might realize, and this post will tell you why.

If you’re ready to click away because you’ve been convinced by mainstream media that sunlight is bad for you, I hope you don’t. You’ve been misinformed. Not only is sunlight not bad for you, you need it to be a healthy human being. Should you bask in the sun with barely any clothes own until your skin blisters? Of course, not. However, moderate amounts of direct sunlight every day is a key to good health.

Sunlight first thing in the morning provides serotonin

sunlight first thing in the morning, girl with long brown hair, black shirt with bare shoulder, eyes closed, standing in sunlight

You should never stare directly into the sun because it can damage to your eyes. However, getting outside and into direct sunlight first thing in the morning is beneficial to your health. If you are outside letting sunlight hit you, it will get into your eyes, which is a key to good health. When you allow the morning sun to wash over you, it sparks production of the ”happiness” hormone, serotonin. Not only does serotonin produce feelings of well-being, it has numerous other effects on your body, as well.

In addition to helping to regulate your body temperature, it also promotes wound healing. Serotonin affects digestion, mood, and sleep. When you read that last part, you might have thought, ”Wait. What? I thought it was melatonin that affects sleep.” Well, guess what? Serotonin converts to melatonin in your body!

Sunlight first thing in the morning improves sleep at night

sunlight first thing in the morning, man, dark hair, bear and mustache, white tee shirt, sleeping in bed

If you make it a habit to get direct sunlight first thing in the morning, all the wonderful serotonin it stimulates will convert to melatonin. In recent years, people have become afraid of being in the sun due to all the misinformation that mainstream media and others have purported. If you follow the actual science on the topic, however, you will quickly learn that sunlight is good for you. Melatonin is widely known as the ”sleep hormone.” What is less widely known is that serotonin turns into melatonin.

All of creation is wired with a circadian rhythm. This is a natural, inner rhythm by which we are designed to function. This inherent rhythm affects the mind and body. A single cycle follows a 24 hour period. Light that is incoming to your eyes sends messages to your brain. This is all part of your circadian rhythm.

If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, try getting more sunlight

woman with long, blonde, curly hair, sleep mask pulled up on head, pink nightgown, letters spelling insomnia on pillow

When you bask in direct sunlight first thing in the morning and throughout the day, your body makes lots of serotonin. When you think of this hormone, you probably associate it with your brain. Most people know that the brain produces serotonin. What you might not know is that only about 10% of it comes from your brain. The other 90% is in your gut! That’s why it has such a major effect on digestion!

Sunlight is stimulating the serotonin your body needs to be able to function. When the sunlight goes away at night, serotonin converts to melatonin, which helps you sleep. This is why you might want to try getting more sunlight during daylight hours, if you’re having trouble sleeping at night.

Morning light is also a great source of vitamin D

woman lying in grass, sleeveless blue striped shirt, sunglasses, one hand on abdomen, the other behind head

Your body needs sunlight on it skin to produce vitamin D. We cannot live without vitamin D. Sadly, many people today are deficient in this nutrient. Chronic fatigue, aching bones and weak muscles are symptoms of vitamin D deficiency. If you always feel exhausted and your body aches, it won’t be easy to get adequate sleep at night. This is a good reason to get more sunlight, preferably first thing in the morning.

The process takes a while

shower head spraying water

The human body is a complex network of systems. The brain and body work together so that a person can function. Some processes, such as serotonin converting to melatonin, take time. This is why health experts suggest getting a healthy dose of sunlight first thing in the morning. Do you usually take a shower after you’ve been in the sun, especially at the beach? You might want to stop doing this.

Studies show that showering immediately after coming inside from being in direct sunlight reduces vitamin D production. When you bask in the sun, the rays hit your skin. That is where vitamin D production occurs, as the sunlight is absorbed into your skin. However, if you shower too soon, it interrupts the process.

Morning light is less harsh than a bright, noon sun

man, white tee shirt, woman, long hair, pink leggings, white tank top, sitting in sunlight on exercise mats, hands on chest

Choosing the early morning hours to get direct sunlight means that you’ll be exposed to sun but have less chance of burning. It’s all about common sense. As mentioned at the start of this post, you don’t want to lie under the harshest rays of sunlight at a high altitude until you burn and blister. The idea is to get moderate doses of direct sunlight on a daily basis. It can strengthen your immune system, aid digestion, boost energy and alertness and help you get a good night’s sleep.

Share THis