Once again, gray days have arrived. Clouds hang low overhead, displacing

the brilliant blue skies of September and early October; the rain begins to fall. Early morning commuters follow one another along wet, darkened roads, brake lights flashing like Christmas bulbs strung across the hills.

Daylight – one of our most precious commodities – is growing scarce. From mid-June through mid-December, each day grows shorter than the one before: by early November, the seasonal changes created by decreasing light are apparent across the landscape. Migratory birds vanish. Juncos, chickadees and wrens band into winter groups and forage together beneath the ferns and salal. Alders and big leaf maples lose their leaves.

As the shortest day of the year approaches, many people long to stay inside, gathering with friends and family near the fire. For many, this cocooning is a cherished aspect of life in the Northwest. But don’t stay inside too long – December light has precious, health supporting qualities that are best obtained through direct exposure. This winter, make it a priority to get outside for an hour or so each day. The benefits of doing so may surprise you.

The benefits of natural light

Without sunlight, life on earth would not exist in its present form. Plants turn sunlight into simple sugars through the process of photosynthesis; by eating plants, animals capture this solar energy. In turn, people harvest the sun by eating plants and animals, making clothing and other tools from plant and animal matter through the use of photovoltaic panels, and by extracting oil, coal and natural gas – which were once plant matter – from the earth.

In addition, we rely on sunlight to manufacture vitamin D, which supports healthy bone development and a strong immune system. While excessive exposure to direct sunlight can cause health problems, including skin cancers and cataracts, a lack of exposure to daylight can also cause health problems.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that tends to occur during winter months in the northern hemisphere, appears to be linked to a deficit in natural light. SAD appears to improve with light exposure. While many sufferers use a full-spectrum light box to simulate daylight, spending time outdoors every day has also been shown to reduce the symptoms of SAD.

Getting outside for at least 30 to 40 minutes a day has another benefit not offered by simulated light: doing so brings us into direct contact with the animals and plants that share our world, offering us the possibility of making a deeper connection to them, helping to rebalance the circadian rhythms that are upset by light deficiency.

Bringing the outside in: Day lighting your home or office

Obtaining adequate exposure to natural light affects our overall mood and sense of well-being, and has an impact on workplace satisfaction and productivity. In recent years, a number of studies have shown clear links between the quality of workspace light and employee absenteeism and turnover. A similar relationship exists between levels of daylight and a sense of well-being within our homes. When given visual preference surveys, most people indicate that bright interior spaces with large windows and views to the outdoors are more appealing than rooms with no outside views or where small windows admit little daylight.

Given the months of rain and overcast sky common to winters in the Pacific Northwest, and the high incidence of SAD that occurs at this latitude, adopting strategies that increase daylight in our homes and workspace has multiple benefits. These strategies include maximizing the amount of light that enters a building (through appropriate site selection, sizing and placement of windows, and use of light shelves and skylights) and arranging functional areas in a way that minimizes the need for supplemental lighting while reducing glare and eyestrain.

Properly designed, a workspace or home that maximizes access to natural light reduces long-term energy costs, improves wellness (especially during the winter months), recreates the benefits of going outside and supports our capacity to do our work, whatever that might be.

What is Winter Solstice? When does it happen?

Solstice occurs twice a year, in June and December, and is a result of the tilt, or inclination, of Earth’s axis, which causes the Sun to be farthest north (in June) or south (in December) at noon. This position of the Sun is what creates the longest day of the year (in June), and the longest night of the year (in December). The word solstice is derived from Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstice the Sun’s movement north or south is minimal.

This year winter solstice in the Northern hemisphere takes place Dec. 22 when the sun will rise at 7:55 a.m. and set at 4:21 p.m.

A (very) brief history of Christmas lights

In North America today, many people associate the lights hung on our homes and trees during December with Christmas. But the tradition of generating light during the shortest days and the longest nights of the year is a common practice in cultures around the world, and is linked to historical practices of feasting, dancing, and celebrating the rebirth and renewal of the seasons.

In the U.S., the first known electrically illuminated Christmas tree was the creation of Edward H. Johnson, an associate of inventor Thomas Edison. Johnson had Christmas tree light bulbs especially made for him and first displayed them at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City on Dec. 22, 1882. Because of their expense, they did not catch on with the U.S. public until the late 1930s. Over time, strings of lights migrated from use on trees inside houses to mantles, doorways and eventually the exteriors of homes, commercial districts and even skyscrapers.

While the sight of extravagant light displays during the holidays is a well-established and much-loved tradition in the U.S., the practice has environmental impacts. Light strings contain lead and PVC, and often end up in a landfill after a season or two of use. Traditional incandescent lights increase the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere each holiday season. Today, many municipal districts and businesses are adopting policies to address the environmental impacts of holiday light displays; as a result of their examples, more citizens are becoming aware of the need to consider sustainability issues when planning holiday light displays.

There are ways to enjoy this tradition and be more environmentally sensitive. Begin by purchasing high-quality lights: a few extra dollars will provide lights that will last, possibly for generations. If you are shopping for new lights, consider buying LEDs: their energy use is 90 percent less than traditional lights and they last much longer. Before disposing of old light strings, consider alternative uses for the materials. To conserve energy, use light timers and use your lights for fewer hours or days during the holidays. If that’s not possible, make an effort to reduce inside energy use during the weeks when your light displays are on.