Alright eve enthusiasts, it’s time to talk about light therapy. You know, those bright boxes people swear by to sort out their sleep. Apparently, if you sit in front of a glorified desk lamp, suddenly, you’re sleeping like a baby instead of scrolling through TikTok at 3 am wondering if you should take up pottery. Sounds a bit too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, let’s get stuck in and find out.
what even is light therapy?
In a nutshell, light therapy is where you expose yourself to a special light that mimics daylight. It’s meant to trick your brain into thinking it’s sunny outside, even if it’s chucking it down and so dark at 4 pm you’re wondering if it’s bedtime already. The theory is that it helps reset your body clock, boosts your mood, and gets your sleep schedule back on track.
Sounds simple, but when you think about it, isn’t it just nature’s way of telling us we’ve evolved too far? Cavemen didn’t need a SAD lamp to doze off; they just conked out in a cave after a long day of avoiding sabre-toothed tigers. Meanwhile, we’re over here buying lamps that cost more than a Tesco meal deal subscription.
how does light therapy work?
The magic lies in how light affects your circadian rhythm – that’s a fancy term for your internal body clock. The light stimulates your brain, telling it to wake up and stop moping around like it’s January 20th. Over time, your sleep gets better, your mood perks up, and you stop contemplating whether it’s socially acceptable to nap in the stationery cupboard at work.
The catch? You’ve got to sit in front of one of these lamps for about 20–30 minutes a day. Which sounds easy, until you realise your mornings are already a circus act of burning toast, forgetting your keys, and dodging traffic because the bus was early (again).
does it actually work?
Yes – for some of us, at least. Light therapy’s a big deal for those dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which basically turns winter into one long duvet day. It can also help if your sleep’s out of whack because you’ve been bingeing Netflix till 2 am or you’ve just flown back from that week in Tenerife you definitely couldn’t afford.
But here’s the thing: You’ve got to use it properly. Sitting in front of a light box while scrolling Instagram doesn’t count. You’re meant to stare vaguely in its direction, which feels a bit odd – like you’re trying to soak up the sun in your kitchen, but the sun’s been replaced by an LED rectangle from Argos.
the “side effects”
Now, no one tells you this, but light therapy can be… intense. Some people feel a bit wired after using it, like they’ve had one too many espressos. Others get headaches or feel their eyes getting twitchy. And if you overdo it, you might end up buzzing at bedtime, which is the exact opposite of what we’re going for here.
Oh, and you’re not supposed to use it in the evening, unless you fancy being awake at 4 am wondering if it’s time to alphabetise your spice rack.
should you try it?
If your sleep schedule is a mess, or the winter gloom has got you feeling like a grumpy mole person, light therapy might be worth a punt. Sure, the lamps aren’t cheap, but think of it as an investment – like a gym membership you’ll actually use.
That said, if your sleep troubles are more about late-night Deliveroo binges or doom-scrolling X (formerly Twitter), maybe sort those out first. No lamp in the world can fix the fact you’re replying to emails at 1 am because “it’ll save me time in the morning.”
light therapy: final thoughts
So, does light therapy work? For some, absolutely. For others, it’s just a very bright lamp that takes up space on the kitchen table. But hey, if you’re desperate for a good night’s kip and don’t mind feeling a bit like a houseplant basking under a grow light, it’s worth a go.
At the very least, it’s an excuse to tell your mates, “Sorry, I can’t meet up, I’ve got to sit in front of my therapy lamp.” Sounds posh, doesn’t it? Just don’t forget to turn it off – your energy bill’s high enough as it is.
Right, we’re off to find our SAD lamp. It’s either that or spend another night dreaming about being chased by a giant alarm clock. Sweet dreams!
