If you experience low energy during the winter months, it could be seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
SAD sufferers tend to experience restless sleep, lethargy and depression – all caused by the decrease in light levels during winter. But a good SAD lamp can help relieve symptoms. Even people without a SAD diagnosis can benefit from a light box.
Dr. Victoria Revell, associate professor at the University of Surrey and sleep researcher, spoke at an event hosted by Lumie to explain why the winter months are tough on us.
“Light is very important for synchronizing our body clocks. You have 24-hour rhythms in virtually every aspect of your physiology and behavior. Your sleep cycle is your most obvious one. But actually your body has rhythms in how your stomach functions, how your muscles function, how your lungs function.
As we move into the winter months and we generally get a lot less light, our body clock can become a little disconnected from the outdoor day, often making you want to sleep in a little later, making you feel sluggish. and you’re having trouble getting started. But we also know that light has a very powerful effect on how you feel, your mood, how alert you feel and how well you can perform. And if we don’t get that bright light in the morning that helps us get up and go, people often start to feel quite down and quite depressed.”
A SAD lamp or light box is designed to mimic the natural outdoor light we miss during the winter months, and stimulate the same physiological response in users. It can boost your mood and energy levels.
You can’t use any lamp and get the same benefits. Lumie is a specialist in making SAD lamps and light alarms and that is why we have chosen to review the brand’s devices.
If you have been diagnosed with SAD and live in the UK, you are entitled to VAT remission on products designed to help relieve symptoms. SAD lamps are classified as medical devices. You can find out more by reading the government guidelines, but in short, you pay less at the time of purchase. You’ll find this option available when you click to purchase a SAD lamp from Lumie’s online store.
You may also find that a light alarm helps you wake up on dark winter mornings and feel refreshed. A light alarm reproduces the stages of early daylight so you can wake up naturally, and can be a huge help for people who struggle with a lack of light during their winter routines. We tested some of the best in our round-up of the best light alarms.
For more information about SAD lamps and purchasing advice, read further behind the diagram.
The best SAD lamps
1. Lumie Task – Best Design
Positives
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Elegant design
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Double use
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10,000 lux brightness
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Displays colors accurately
Disadvantages
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Height cannot be adjusted
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Duration
Price upon review:
Not yet available in the US
This beautiful lamp delivers 10,000 lux to brighten up your day. Moreover, it is a brilliant task lamp with a color rendering index of 95+, making it a perfect lamp for drawing, sewing, painting and other crafts.
If you want a SAD lamp that will match the decor of your home and not take up too much space, this is the model you should choose. Sleek and elegantly designed, it looks good wherever you place it. Plus, it comes in five really attractive colors. We tested the charcoal blue, but it is also available in sage green, golden yellow, steel blue and white mist. You can view all colors on the website John Lewis website.
It’s dimmable and has a nice control mechanism: just swipe your finger over the Lumie logo on the base to choose the brightness. The direction and angle of the lamp are fully adjustable, but please note that the height is fixed. Still, we thought it was the perfect height to work at, or to use as a SAD lamp.
Yes, it’s expensive, but if you suffer from SAD and buy direct from Lumie you can save over £40 by not having to pay VAT.
Read our full Lumie Task review
2. Lumie Vitamin L – Most budget friendly
Positives
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Bright
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No bright light
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Well priced
The Vitamin L SAD lamp from Lumie is slim, light and simple enough to find a place in any room. It’s incredibly bright, but thanks to the wave design it’s not too bright. If you want, it can illuminate an entire bedroom or a small living room. The entire large rectangular surface lights up for optimal lighting.
It does need to be plugged in, but the cable is long enough so you can place the lamp on a bedside table or desk. The stand allows it to be in portrait or landscape position, and the only button or control is the power switch on the back.
The effects of the lamp vary from person to person, so it’s tricky to make a judgment on whether or not the lamp will work for you, but 30 minutes while we were getting ready for work ensured that we felt noticeably more awake and alert in the morning.
It’s one of the best priced SAD lights we’ve seen, but others with a higher price tag often include extra features, while this is a simple, no-fuss solution.
3. Lumie Zest SAD & wake-up light – Best dual function light
Price upon review:
$239
The Lumie Zest has dual functionality. It is both a SAD lamp and a wake-up light.
This compact little dedicated SAD light box features an output of up to 10,000 lux and adjustable brightness levels to suit your taste. For light therapy, you can set different brightness and timer settings and use the adjustable stand to direct it towards your face for the most effective light therapy.
The wake-up light has a 15 or 30 minute sunrise option and a snooze function. The blue-enriched white LEDs give the impression of natural daylight entering your room, making it a soft light to wake up to. You can set an optional beeping alarm, but you can’t choose other soothing sounds like with special wake-up lights.
The Lumie Zest must always be plugged in, but because it is so small, you can easily move it around your house. It may not offer the same features as some of the specialty products, but this little hybrid certainly packs a punch.
4. Lumie SAD Desk Lamp – Height Adjustable Desktop SAD Lamp
Price upon review:
Currently not available in the US
This SAD lamp from Lumie also serves as a table lamp. It has four brightness settings that you can cycle through by tapping the base, but you won’t find any other features such as timers or alarms – which may disappoint some, considering the desk lamp costs over £100.
Compared to some other SAD lights, the design is basic, with an adjustable neck and a smooth plastic finish. It is not battery powered, so it must be left plugged in before use.
The style of the desk lamp is quite strict and clinical (we are not surprised that it is a class 2a medical device). We also thought it was quite thick.
However, the light itself is crisp and clear with 10,000 lux at full brightness – making it a great study or work light if you want to integrate it into your daily life. It comes with a removable diffuser.
Lumie recommends sitting under the lamp for 60 minutes per day, or 30 minutes per day with the diffuser removed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use a SAD lamp?
Choice may vary from device to device, so it’s always worth checking the instructions. For a 10,000 lux device, you’ll need to use it anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour per day.
There is no need to sit in it and stare at it. Actually, that’s not a good idea. Instead, position it so you can see past it while you read, work, or watch TV. Make sure the light can reach your eyes directly. To do this, you need to place it on a desk, table or shelf, about 40 to 50 cm from your face.
But this information is only a guideline. All SAD lamps have slightly different instructions, so if you buy one, check the manual before using it.
What is the difference between a SAD lamp and a light alarm?
A light alarm is different from a SAD lamp, although both devices can be useful for people who struggle with the lack of light during the winter months. A light alarm sounds instead of an audio alarm, glowing from a low, warm light for a period of time to simulate dawn. They help you wake up gently and make you feel fresher by the time you have to get up.
They usually also have an audible alarm and can be used as a bedside table and reading light.
Is a SAD light worth it?
SAD lamps are expensive devices, so you may wonder if it’s really worth buying one. If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder, we think the answer is yes. This is why.
Bright light therapy is one of the most widely accepted treatments for seasonal depression. Light therapy works by controlling the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates the sleep cycle. It also stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects your mood. In short, it can help get your sleep patterns in order and improve the way you feel.
SAD lamps are different from regular lamps, hence the price. They are medical devices designed to produce a brightness of at least 10,000 lux. You can’t sit under a regular lamp and get any kind of wellness boost from it.
But there is good news. If you suffer from SAD in the UK, you may not have to pay VAT on the purchase of a SAD lamp. Visit Lumie and buy there. You’ll see the option when you’re ready to add the device of your choice to your cart.
