Published March 7, 2026 in The Washington Post
Article Note
If you think life always feels just a little bit easier in the spring and summer, you’re onto something.
Natural light from the sun offers a range of physical, mental and behavioral benefits — which is why having even just an extra hour each day to soak it up may feel so monumental. Even on overcast days, the intensity of daylight — which hovers between 10,000 and 100,000 lux — is far greater than that of the artificial lighting in your home, school or office, which ranges from 100 to 500 lux.
Of course, the health risks of too much sunlight are well-known and include skin cancer, immune system suppression, and vision-damaging eye conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. The key is to get some natural light exposure, while making sure not to overdo it.