Two Sylvias' Weekly Muse: June 19, 2022

Issue 8

Hello Muse Subscribers,

Happy Summer Solstice!

Summer officially begins on Tuesday, June 21st, at 5:14 a.m. (EDT). We hope you have time to enjoy some sun-filled days—drinking a cup of coffee at your kitchen table in an east-facing window or on the beach, taking nature walks, city walks, or pulling weeds in your veggie garden.

Here are a few interesting observations on creativity, mood, and general health related to our exposure to sunlight (of course, be wise not to overexpose yourself in the sun and use sunscreen):

• A few hours of being in sunlight, whether outdoors or sitting near a sunlit window can increase creative ideas by nearly 15%.

• Being out in the sunshine calibrates your circadian rhythm, your internal clock that regulates sleep. After some healthy sun exposure, most people sleep an extra 45 minutes to an hour that night.

• Sunlight aids your body in releasing certain hormones and neuro-signaling molecules: serotonin (wellbeing and happiness), endorphins (relaxation and wellbein…