Natural light exposure during the day can improve your sleep and mental health

If you struggle to sleep well or sleep enough, you might consider getting more natural sunlight during the day. In a new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers collected data from more than 400,000 adults in the U.K. They found that each hour of daytime light was associated with greater ease of waking up, less frequent tiredness during the day, and fewer insomnia symptoms. But maybe even more surprisingly, they found that each extra hour spent outdoors in the daytime was linked to lower odds of major depressive disorder, lower odds of using antidepressants, lower neuroticism, and having greater happiness.