How early in the day does the sunlight touch your face?
Every species on the planet is tied to the rhythms of the earth and sky, including us. We are, by nature, diurnal creatures, and while it's easy to override that part of ourselves with the artificial lights we're surrounded with, we can't erase our physiology. Going back thousands of years, healers and teachers from many different cultures have said that moving with these natural cycles is supportive of our best health.
While many people intuitively trust that ancient wisdom, studies have also been done to prove the validity of the claims, and it has been repeatedly shown that there are negative health implications from shift work and other jobs that keep us from daylight. Seasonal Affective Disorder and other issues arising from a lack of sun are also becoming more widely recognized, and while it is true that those of us in northern climates have less hours each day to experience sunlight over the winter months, we don't have to forgo the benefits entirely. If we get intentional about our timing, we can mitigate a lot of the issues that can arise, whether it's due to a busy schedule or the shorter days.
When we make a point of letting the sun touch our faces as early as possible each morning, even for a few minutes, it sets up our energy and circadian rhythm to help with all of our biological processes which affect everything from sleep to digestion to our moods. Making this simple adjustment to our schedules can have a wide range health and wellness benefits, so it's great to check in every day and ask yourself if you've made time to let the sun shine down on you.
For more info on the importance of sun exposure, check out this article on Sun Medicine - https://www.intotheelements.ca/post/sun-medicine
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