Self Care Sunday: Sunlight

I am so excited to share with you my current self care + wellness favs! I hope you take a quiet moment this week to enjoy your life + rest.

This one is not new or trendy, but sunlight is one of the most valuable and overlooked self care items out there.

Now that winter has hit Chicago, the sunlight is dwindling. This past week we barely had any sunshine throughout the days. I didn’t realize how badly my body was craving the sun until I saw it peek through my blinds this morning. I opened my blinds up and just instinctively knew I needed the sunlight as bright as possible in my room. And it feels great.

I didn’t use to love the sunlight. Back when I was unhappy with myself and my body I would hide away from it. I would avoid the outdoors, shut my blinds and hide out like a vampire. Part of the reason was I hated my body. I would cover up with jeans and sweatshirts even in warmer months so the sun was extra hot and a constant reminder that I didn’t have a perfect body.

Now, I love the sunshine. The sun is like a battery for me. I need it to be recharged. The sun makes me happy and gives me energy. It is no longer a reminder how much I hate my body it is a reminder of how far I’ve come in my health and wellness journey. It reminds me that being healthy isn;t just about dropping jean sizes or eating plant-based. It’s about mental changes and improving all aspects of your life.

And I’m not the only fan of sunshine. In fact, science shows that sunshine gives us plenty of health benefits. Mostly everyone knows that it gives us a big potion of Vitamin D, which helps promote eight loss. The sun also boosts our mood, improves our immunity, reduces risk of cancer, promotes eye health, relieves body aches, and clears skin. It’s like the superfood for our souls.

Ideally, I’d love to spend at least 20 minutes in the sunshine everyday but with Chicago winters, it gets difficult. That’s why any chance I can open my blinds and let it pour in, I take that chance. I know there are products that illuminate light similar to the sunshine, but I have yet to try it.

Do you like sunshine? How often do you spend soaking up the rays?

Have a healthy + happy week!