Lately, coffee ain’t doing what it should.
I don’t know if it’s the *excessively* long winter we’re having (frost in May? Really, Mother Nature?) or the constant travel, late nights and hours spent at the computer… I’m just not feeling my best.
Now I can guess what you’re thinking – “constant travel, late nights and hours spent at the computer, that would make anyone feel run down!” – true, but this is a lifestyle I’m used to, so to suddenly be out of sorts… well, it’s nerve racking.
I’ve been trying to compensate. I increased my vitamin intake, adding Vitamin C and D to my daily multivitamin. I dragged out my old juicer to give “energy boosting juices” one more shot. And, shamefully, I increased my coffee consumption to two cups a day, after scaling back to just one cup for almost a year. Admittedly, that was the biggest blow to my ego; knowing I was giving in to vices instead of trying a more healthful approach.
But it’s not just my energy that’s down – it’s my mood, too. Admittedly, I am affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and feel like a completely different person during the winter months. Although the calendar tells me it’s May, the red-labelled frost warnings on weather websites tell a different story – and my body is reacting accordingly.
Often, I feel sad. And I’m tired of being tired.
So, I decided to try something different, and, completely radical for adverse-to-change little old me. I decided to try the Philips goLITE BLU.
The Philips goLITE BLU energy light is a portable light therapy device designed and clinically proven to help increase energy levels naturally and help fight Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), winter blues and jet lag.
Listen to the rationale: Clinical studies have shown bright blue light improves energy levels, mood, alertness, mid-day energy dips, cognitive functioning, and performance. It is especially the deep sky-blue light rays (part of the spectrum) that most efficiently fights sleepiness and energizes the body. As such, the goLITE BLU illuminates the user’s eyes with safe blue light, sufficient to activate various groups of neurons in the brain which help to keep the Body Clock properly aligned.
Bright blue wavelength light also activates brain centers to release substances that help us to feel better like Serotonin and alerting substances like Cortisol, while it supresses Melatonin which tries to keep us sleeping in the morning. In fact, a study found that 20 minutes of therapeutic blue light per day for 5 consecutive days significantly improved SIGH-SAD scores for people with sub-syndromal SAD. (Duijzer W, Meesters Y. SLTBR Abstracts 2011)
I’m giving it a try. It’s been just over two weeks and I’m hoping to see tangible results any day now. The light needs to be directed towards my eyes, but there’s no need to stare directly at it. That means I can use the Philips goLITE BLU to fight low energy levels and fatigue while I’m doing things like eating, working or watching TV. Currently, I get in my light therapy during conference calls; since I always have at least one scheduled per day, it allows me to have 30 minutes of exposure to energizing blue light.
Wish me luck, friends! I’ll be back with my findings shortly. In the meantime, for more information on Philips goLITE BLU, visit www.philips.ca.
This post is sponsored by Philips. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.
It has been a bit chilly outside lately. Its suppose to rain for the long week-end. For that one of these would be great when getting outside isnt an option.
Lena I cannot wait for more feedback. This light has been suggested to me by my “sleep” doctor!
wow this would be incredible for me , cant wait to hear how you make out with it :) sounds like a great product , thanks for sharing !
This would be awesome., I can’t wait to see your long term results
Great minds think alike. A happy light was waiting for me on mother’s day.
I’ll be interested to see how you make out with this.
I really think I could benefit from one of these lights – I do tend to get down when it’s grey and dark… I would be interested to see how I responded to one!
Thanks for sharing i hope it works out well for you.Honestly i hope Spring shows up soon here in Newfoundland it’s just nasty cold and damp !
I saw one at Costco, and wondered if it would help with seasonal depression. I m curious what you think.
Good luck, will be following to see how this works for you. I have seen lights like this and have been curious as to whether or not they really work
It will be interesting to hear about your results, I remain to be convinced that this is a good thing :-)
I’m really interested to see how it works for you.
I hope it works for you Lena, a friend who suffers as well, has been using light therapy for a few years now with very good effect.
I’ve heard of these before. Totally want to try it for when I feel down.
This is so interesting. I would’ve definitely benefited this during my college days – though I could still use it now (after all, I rely on a few cups of coffee a day)! Also, this explains why my Amazon tablet has a night mode which gives the screen an orange tinge to block out the otherwise blue light on the screen.
I could really use this, as my office at work has no windows, so I don’t get enough natural light into my eyes during the day.
This would be really easy to use. Look forward to hearing your results, I also get tired of being tired!
They have one of these special lights at one of the public libraries nearby. I don’t know if this would help me, because I can sleep even when there is bright light.
Good luck! Looking forward to seeing how this works out for you.
I have family members who could benefit from one of these machines. I would like to know if they work.
I love that hat, we could do with more sun here too after the deluge and very strong winds yesterday. Our neighbours lost some of their siding (on the sheltered side of their house!), others lost trampolines etc etc.
oh wow this is the coolest! first time hearing about it. Boy do I know a few people who could use this (me included)
This is a great article. Thank you fir sharing it. Did the light therapy work for you? I’d love to read about your results :)
Sounds like something I need to check out, sounds very interesting!!
awesome, cant wait to read up more about it, hope it works for you
I’ve always been intrigued by these lights and what results I would feel. It’s reassuring to read this is clinically proven. I could really use something like this to battle those mid-afternoon energy lows.
I am excited for the feedback as my husband and I would really enjoy getting one to help us get through the long dark winter months.
This is amazing! I would love to try it out!
I would love one of these. I am hopeful that it would help with some of the SAD that often experience.
I’d like to try this for my insomnia.
Hope you are feeling a bit better, the weather has been a lot better in my part of the woods which makes me much happier!
Looking forward to hearing the results.
How are you finding it?
I was happy to read both post on topic i think i would benefit from this product!
I was recently diagnose with iron overload and even with Phlebotomy I’m always tired. I’m sure this would help!
I can’t wait to see your long term results on this product,it might be just the thing we need !
Winter is definitely long and depressing. I’m not looking forward to it. Sitting in front of a light seems like a small price to pay for feeling better!
I’ve heard of this product but I don’t remember seeing it. This light is really appealing to the eyes and if it helps that’s the most important thing
Love that hat btw, that is so me!