The winter months are my nemesis. From November through to around March each year, I am simply a less functional human being.
I have less motivation, I’m less creative, and have absolutely no energy – and this is a particularly big issue given that my job requires both ideas and energy. I’ve had a suspicion for several years now that this noticeable dip in my mood is connected to the winter months, as when the sun comes out, I become a completely different person.
My skin feels better, I feel healthier, and my mind feels capable of coming up with new projects. So at the beginning of January, after yet another few months of struggling to get through the dark, gloomy and freezing cold days, I decided it was time to try a SAD (seasonal affective disorder) lamp.
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I opted for the Beurer TL30UK SAD Lamp, which is on offer for £44.79 from Amazon. This device looks similar to a Kindle – it’s about the size of a paperback Book, but slim. Sitting on my desk, it could pass for a picture frame.
But the Beurer TL30UK SAD Lamp has proven far more effective to me than photos – I think it’s really helped boost my mood over the last few weeks. The SAD lamp is easy to set up, simply by plugging it into the mains and connecting a little clip to help it stand upright.
Then, according to the instructions, you need to place it close to you – up to around 30 centimetres away – and you just have to press one button to turn it on. It’s that easy. Then just carry on with what you’re doing, occasionally turning to look into the 10,000 lux light for the full therapeutic effects.
I put the Beurer TL30UK SAD Lamp on my desk while I was working, and while it’s quite awkward to get that close to it, I immediately noticed something. I felt drawn towards it, almost like I was a plant stretching towards sunlight.
I have now put the lamp on while I am working, either in the morning or in the afternoon depending on my shifts, for around two weeks. And I’ve noticed that my mood has been significantly better than at the end of last year.
This is despite being ill at one point during the two weeks, and struggling at another time with horribly painful period cramps. I even found that putting the lamp on and glancing at the light every few minutes helped the cramps recede.
When I have the light on, I feel more energetic, positive and upbeat. The light is very powerful, and did take a bit of getting used to, but this didn’t take long. As I work, I find myself being more productive and engaged in what I’m doing when I have the light on.
The Beurer TL30UK SAD Lamp is also around half the price of the more famous Lumie SAD lamp, which makes it a great option for someone looking to boost their mood on a budget. The SAD lamp comes with a cloth case to protect it while not in use or when travelling, which is also very handy.
Overall, I really like this SAD lamp. It’s compact, looks great on my desk, and seems to already be having a positive impact. You can buy the Beurer TL30UK SAD Lamp from Amazon for £44.79.
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