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I’ve often wondered about the role morning light plays in shaping my mood throughout the day. I live in a small apartment with a window that faces east, so I see sunlight streaming in most mornings. But does that light actually make a difference in how I feel? To dig a little deeper into this question, I decided to keep track of my mood in relation to the sunlight I experienced for ten days.
The Setup
My experiment began on a Monday morning. I made a simple chart to log my mood each day along with a few notes on the quality of morning light. I decided to rate my mood on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being “I can barely function” and 10 being “I feel like I could conquer the world.” I also took note of whether the morning was cloudy, sunny, or somewhere in between.
Each day, I focused on getting up at the same time, 7:00 a.m., and I made sure to sit by my window with my morning coffee for at least 20 minutes. This was my way of soaking up the light and reflecting on how it affected me. I chose this time intentionally because it’s when the light feels soft and warm, yet still bright enough to notice its impact.
Day by Day Observations
Here’s a rundown of my ten-day experience:
Day 1: Monday
The sun peeked through the curtains as I woke up, casting a gentle glow across my kitchen. I felt pleasantly surprised by how vibrant the light made everything look. I scored my mood an 8. I noticed that the light made my coffee taste richer, somehow, as I sat at my small table, looking out at the street below.
Day 2: Tuesday
It was cloudy today, and I could barely see the sun at all. My mood dipped to a 5. I felt sluggish and was tempted to stay in bed. The gray light made everything feel flat. Maybe my mood was too tied to the brightness outside.
Day 3: Wednesday
The sun returned, and I noticed the difference right away. My mood was a solid 9, and I felt energized. I even made a point to water my plants, which seemed to perk up in the sunlight. This was interesting because I hadn’t expected that the light would inspire me to take better care of my little home.
Day 4: Thursday
Another cloudy day meant my mood dropped again, this time to a 4. I found it difficult to focus on anything. I even tried reading in the afternoon, but the lack of natural light made me feel tired. I realized how much I relied on sunlight for my motivation.
Day 5: Friday
The morning was bright and sunny, so I rated my mood an 8. I decided to sit by my window and journal about my week, reflecting on the ups and downs I had experienced. The sunlight seemed to illuminate not just my room but also my thoughts. It was a calming yet energizing experience.
Day 6: Saturday
It was slightly overcast again, and my mood settled at a 6. I spent time at a nearby café, where I noted that the light streaming through the windows made the space feel more inviting. This led me to think about how light works not only in my home but in public spaces as well.
Day 7: Sunday
A glorious sunny morning led to a mood of 10. I had plans to go for a walk, and the light made everything feel more beautiful. I took my time strolling through the neighborhood, noticing the flowers blooming and people smiling. It felt like the sun was shining not just on the world but also in my heart.
Day 8: Monday
Back to work, and once again, it was cloudy. My mood dropped to a 5. I noticed that I had a harder time concentrating on tasks. I reflected on how the weather seemed to dictate my productivity levels. I often wonder if this is a common experience.
Day 9: Tuesday
The sun returned, and I rated my mood an 8 again. I decided to do some light stretching in the sunbeams pouring in. It felt refreshing, and I wondered if this practice of movement combined with light had an additional boost on my mood. It certainly felt more uplifting than a regular morning.
Day 10: Wednesday
Another cloudy day brought my mood down to a 4. I felt lethargic and struggled to motivate myself to tackle my tasks. Sitting in my dim kitchen, I thought about how the absence of light seemed to weigh on me. It was a stark contrast to the previous sunny days.
Patterns and Reflections
Looking back over my notes, it was clear that morning light did seem to have a measurable effect on my mood. I noticed that on sunny days, my mood averaged about 8, while on cloudy days, it averaged around 5. Those bright mornings left me feeling energized and motivated, while the gray days felt heavy and uninspired.
There were moments I took notice of, like the way the sunlight made my kitchen feel more inviting. I also realized that my productivity and ability to focus seemed to lag on dull mornings. It was as if the light was a catalyst for my creativity and energy. On sunny days, I felt more inclined to engage in activities that brought me joy, like watering my plants or journaling.
Conversely, on cloudy days, I often found myself seeking comfort in distractions like scrolling through my phone. It was a reminder of how the external environment influences my internal world. This led me to think, what if I made more of an effort to bring light into my life in other ways? Perhaps I could try lighting candles or using a bright lamp during the darker days. But would it actually help, or would it just feel like it should?
Final Thoughts
After ten days of tracking my mood in relation to morning light, I’m left with more questions than answers. While the correlation is clear for me, I wonder how much of it is tied to my personal preferences and lifestyle. What if other factors, like sleep quality or the previous day’s events, played an equally significant role in shaping my mood? I plan to keep this in mind as I seek ways to cultivate joy in my daily life.
As I jot down these final notes, I realize that the simple act of noticing has its value. I may not have had any groundbreaking conclusions, but I’ve gained insight into how morning light affects me, and I think that’s worth something.
