Evening Sunlight
Photo: Jeff Johnson
What?
Get outside in the evening around the time of sunset to experience natural sunlight exposure.
Why?
Natural sunlight exposure in the evening (when the sun has a low solar angle) trains our circadian rhythm, which helps us have healthy energy levels through the day and sleep well.
How to?
Around sunset, go outside.
Look out toward the horizon but don’t look directly at the sun. Relax.
Get on with your evening.
Protips:
Sunglasses and windows reduce the beneficial effects, so actually get outside.
Habit stack (joining up more than one good habit at a time) by doing some exercise outside in the evening.
Warning: Never stare at the sun, it can cause irreversible damage to the retina. Duh.
The Rabbit Hole (References for People Who Like to Geek Out)
Huberman, A [@Hubermanlab]. (2020 April 9). “Morning and evening sunlight is especially important and powerful, when it comes to activating the biological circuits that support mental [Photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-w7GP7nwwk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Huberman, A. (Host). (2021 June 14). The science of vision, eye health & seeing better (No. 24) [Video podcast episode]. In Huberman Lab. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObtW353d5i0&t=1920s Timestamp: 32:00
Patterson, S.S., Kuchenbecker, J.A., Anderson, J.R., Neitz, M., Neitz, J. (2020). A Color Vision Circuit for Non-Image-Forming Vision in the Primate Retina. Current Biology, 30(7), 1269-1274.e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.01.040
Rivera, A.M., Huberman A.D. (2020). Neuroscience: A Chromatic Retinal Circuit Encodes Sunrise and Sunset for the Brain. Current Biology, 30(7), R316-R318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.02.090
We’d love to know how you microdose nature!
If you’d like to help expand the diversity of our microdoses (and help create a thriving community of nature junkies in the process), email us at hello@naturejunkielife.com
In your email, briefly describe your favorite nature connection experience, how to do it, and how it makes you feel. The more weird, wise and wonderful the better. Thanks in advance!
