Morning Sun Benefits: 8 Easy Ways To Improve Your Holistic Health

The list of benefits that exposure to morning sun offers is long. It affects our internal organs, our skin and our brains, promoting all-round better health and holistic well-being. Greeting the morning sun – “sun gating” is the current buzzword – energises us for the coming day, helps us sleep better long term and generally makes us feel good about ourselves. Studies show that being in natural daylight turns on the switch to all sorts of activities that help regulate our bodies – but how does this occur and how can we maximise morning sun benefits, especially when travelling? Of course, part of the answer is to stay at Novotel hotels, designed with care – and 60 years of experience – to promote comfort and well-being to our business and leisure guests.

Just a few minutes of exposure to direct daylight has a profound effect on our bodies. Here are five ways in which you’ll reap the long-term benefits of catching the morning sunlight on a daily basis:

1. Sitting in daylight steadies your circadian rhythm; aligning your internal clock will help you wake up free of jet lag even after 4long-haul flights.
2. Sunlight helps to promote serotonin production and normalise sleep patterns, so your sleep quality will improve. Increased serotonin levels also lift mood and reduce anxiety levels and depression – you'll feel more content and able to cope with pressure.
3. Exposure to natural light aids vitamin D production, which in turn increases calcium absorption in your body, vital for bone strength and reducing fracture risk. Vitamin D also supports immune system regulation, strengthening your immunity to any bacteria or viruses encountered when travelling.
4. A few minutes in natural light right after waking up immediately signals your body to stop producing melatonin, reducing morning brain fog and increasing mental agility, so you can start your work day with focus and a switched-on brain. 
5. Being in natural light first thing causes a spike in cortisol levels known as the “cortisol awakening response”. This preps your body for the demands of the day, increasing alertness and stabilising stress levels. 

Here at Novotel, we know that small actions repeated time and time again can have an enormous effect on mental and physical health. When staying in our hotels, follow these simple rules (then take them home with you) to garner maximum morning sun benefits: 

1. Get direct exposure to sunlight within an hour of waking. 
2. The optimum time for daylight exposure is between 8am and 10am when UV levels are low; after that there’s a high UV risk with the sun’s rays being stronger.
3. Try for 10–20 minutes of natural light within an hour of waking. Aim for 10 minutes on sunny days and 15–20 minutes on overcast days.
4. Start your day with a 10-minute tea break on your hotel balcony or terrace. 
5. Take your morning exercise routine outside, either onto your balcony or into the hotel grounds for a sunrise walk. If you can’t go outside, sit by a sunlit window for a few minutes.  
6. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Eating outside in your hotel grounds maximises exposure to daylight.
7. Go for a 10-minute morning walk before your busy work or sightseeing schedule takes over.
8. If your meetings are not in your hotel, walk to the venue to up your exposure to daylight. Likewise, sightseers can walk to local attractions.

Changing up your life is not about achieving perfection or instant radical change. It’s about realistic habits that stand more chance of lasting. Small steps, taken consistently, are what build longevity and good health. As part of our groundbreaking Longevity Everyday initiative, we’ll do everything we can to help you enjoy the morning sun, so staying at Novotel can actively help you take the first steps towards making permanent healthy changes to your life. 

Novotel’s focus on guest well-being starts with sound sleep and includes high-quality Live N’Dream beds to aid undisturbed3slumber, meaning you'll have an early wakefulness boost even before starting your mindful morning sun routine. Our guest rooms are thoughtfully designed with large windows, balconies or terraces so you can take advantage of natural light right from waking up. Many of our hotels also have al fresco dining areas for outdoor breakfasts in natural daylight, as well as leafy gardens and outdoor swimming pools for getting active outside. Our public areas are all naturally lit, comfortable and calming, combining modern comfort with the health-boosting benefits of morning sunshine. 

It's clear that taking in natural light in the morning contributes to holistic health. Other small steps you can take first thing to boost well-being include following a 10-minute exercise routine and eating a 2healthy buffet breakfast. Staying at Novotel is always good for your health!
 

Morning light anchors your internal clock to the local time zone when you’re travelling. A few minutes in daylight kickstart the myriad of activities that regulate your body. Early daylight exposure also helps you sleep well in unfamiliar hotel beds.

Just 10–20 minutes of early light can reduce stress significantly as well as warding off seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Remember to take any necessary precautions against UV rays, such as sunscreen.  

Exposure to sunlight early in the day triggers the release of the “feel-good” hormone serotonin, which enhances mood and improves mental agility. It also regulates your circadian rhythm, aiding better sleep at night. 

Exposure to sunlight is an effective natural remedy for minimising jet lag and travel fatigue in frequent fliers, as it helps to reset circadian rhythms to different time zones, promoting mental clarity, realigning sleep patterns and boosting mood.