Let's go out in the sun? How to take profit of the longest days of the year?
And the beautiful season is back! Summer: hair is lighter. The skin is darker. The water is warmer. Drinks are cooler. The music is louder. Nights get longer… Life gets better.
June 21 is the longest day of the year and also the day that sets the tone for the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
To understand what precisely happens on this day, from the perspective of astronomers, we need to start with the meaning of solstice: in fact, it comes from the Latin word solstitium, composed of “sol,” meaning Sun, and “sistere,” meaning to stop. So, solstice means that the Sun stops rising relative to the equator and once it reaches its maximum height above the horizon, it irradiates the Northern Hemisphere with its rays for more hours. As the days get longer, the desire to make good use of outdoor days and enjoy the sunshine returns. So let’s explore the benefits that Brother Sun brings us.
Sunshine and joy
Visible light, in addition to allowing us to admire the beautiful colors of a sunset over the sea or a mountain landscape, also has deeper effects on us through its rhythms. Studies have shown some changes in mood associated with changing seasons, explains that depression is much more common during winter, while the same people are much better off in summer. Exposure to the sun also promotes the production of serotonin, the so-called “joy hormone.”
Sunshine and sleep
Regular sunbathing has direct effects on us in regulating the sleep-wake cycle and improves sleep quality. The sun influences metabolism and produces neurotransmitters that are essential for the sleep-wake rhythm, which is regulated by the alternation of night and day. In addition, the more you expose yourself to the sun (always with proper precautions) the greater the production during the evening of melatonin, a hormone that decreases the reaction to stress and facilitates sleep.
