Setting the Mood...

As we embrace the season and all its excitement, the reality of earlier sunsets is already setting in. For some, this indicates that the fall season has arrived, and for others, it is something to dread. While dark afternoons will soon await us, we can soak up what is left of sunny evenings and simultaneously prepare our homes for earlier nightfall.

First and foremost, make it a point to eat one last dinner in the sun, or as the sun sets. This small intentional dinner will help to signal the end of summer to your body. Whether you wish to eat on your own back porch or on a restaurant patio, just ensure you get one meal outside before the sun starts to set earlier.

To prepare our homes for the earlier sunsets, ensure that there is at least one lamp in each room. Lamps provide just enough light to see and feel comforted, while not overloading your senses before bed and disrupting your circadian rhythm. Ensure these have a warm white or amber glow to further assist your circadian rhythm during this time; a cool or bright light can have the opposite effect to what we are trying to achieve.

It is also a good idea not only to have a lamp in each room, but to also set them on timers to turn on with the sunset. This makes it seem as if the sunlight is staying with us a bit longer, making the transition into longer nights a little less abrupt in our minds.

While these are very minor changes and suggestions, preparing our homes and minds for seasonal changes can make an impact on how those seasons unfold for each of us. So go ahead, set the mood… and set those lamp timers.