Amazon Shoppers Swear This $35 Lamp Is the Best for Beating the Winter Blues
The wintertime certainly has its pros — the holidays, cozy foods, snow — but it also has plenty of cons. Chief among them in my book? The fact that it gets dark outside so early. Even though we’re still technically in the middle of fall, the short amount of daylight is already wreaking havoc on my mood. I hardly see the sun as it is because I work indoors all day, and my apartment window lets hardly any light in. So, now that the sun is setting before 5 p.m., you can imagine that I’m not having a great time.
It’s only the beginning of a seriously long few months, and I know I’m not alone in my struggle — seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a real thing. Luckily, there are steps that you can take to help beat the winter blues that are backed by research. This year, I’m finally going to invest in one of them. Light therapy lamps mimic the effect of sunshine and boost your mood. Dozens of Amazon shoppers report that Verilux’s HappyLight does just that, with thousands of five-star reviews and over 7,000 purchases in the last month alone. Keep reading to find out why I’m scoring one, too, before winter officially arrives.
Verilux HappyLight Lucent
Amazon
$39.99 (was $44.95)
What Is Verilux’s HappyLight Light Therapy Lamp?
Designed to improve everything from your mood to your focus to your quality of sleep, Verilux’s light therapy lamp is simple to use. All you have to do is position it on a tabletop in front of you — you can place it on your desk while you work, for instance — and press the on button. Then, it emits up to 10,000 lux of UV-free LED, full-spectrum light, which is, according to the Yale School of Medicine, the optimal amount. The University of British Columbia has specific guidelines for using a 10,000-lux light therapy lamp, which include keeping it switched on for 30 minutes each morning. (If you want the ease of a built-in timer, the brand also has a $90 model with that feature.)
You can place the HappyLight virtually anywhere, thanks to its portable, tablet-like design. You can even fit it inside your purse and bring it with you to the office! It comes with a stand that allows you to turn the lamp vertically or horizontally, so you can customize it according to your space.
What Amazon Shoppers Are Saying
Average Rating: 4.5/5
“I’m an experienced therapist, and I’ve always suggested sunlamps to clients as I live and work in the Midwest where winter gets long. I decided to order one for my office to offer to clients to try out, and it’s been massively successful. Not only do my clients benefit from the full spectrum light while they’re sitting and meeting with me, but they get to experience it before they buy it and I get some residual benefit as well! I just purchased an adjustable tablet stand to hold it, and it’s great!” — Kelly
“I’m reviewing because the Happy Light made a big difference in my ability to fall asleep at night. Insomnia comes creeping in in the fall, and I’m tired of taking medications to sleep. I use the Happy Light for about 40 minutes each morning, and in the past five weeks I’ve had only one night’s difficulty in going to sleep. This is a huge improvement. It’s not particularly expensive, it’s easy to use, and it works. What’s not to like. Two thumbs up.” — S. Mateo
“ I could FEEL a distinct difference on the days I used the HappyLight: far better sleep, mood, and motivation. I used it only late January — late February while staying in a place with small windows and low light. I might start using the HappyLight again even now because it was a key part of a wonderful morning ritual. Very grateful for this product!” — Lisa C.
When you can’t get away from work to go take a stroll in the sun — or the cold weather keeps you indoors — you have to get creative. This solution is affordable and backed by thousands of perfect ratings, so it’s definitely worth a try. Make sure to add the $5 coupon!
Buy: Verilux HappyLight Light Therapy Lamp, $34.99 (normally $44.95)
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