As Clocks Fall Back, Alaska Northern Lights Urges Americans to Bring the Sun Indoors

With daylight saving time ending November 1, the light therapy pioneer encourages a daily morning light routine to help keep winter depression at bay.

LAS VEGAS, NV, UNITED STATES, October 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — This Sunday, November 1, most of the country turns its clocks back an hour. The extra hour of sleep is welcome, but the trade-off arrives fast: sunset by 5 p.m. in much of the U.S., commutes home in the dark, and weeks of shrinking daylight still ahead. Alaska Northern Lights, a provider of bright light therapy boxes since 1993, is reminding Americans that less sunlight can mean more than a mood dip, and that a few minutes of bright light each morning can help.

Why this time of year hits so hard
For many people, late fall brings low energy, oversleeping, carb cravings, trouble concentrating and a heavier mood. For some, it is seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a recurring form of depression that typically begins in fall or winter and lifts in spring. About 5 percent of U.S. adults experience SAD in a given year, with symptoms lasting roughly 40 percent of the year. Many more experience the milder “winter blues.”

Researchers link SAD to reduced light exposure. Sunlight reaching the eyes helps set the body’s internal clock and regulates hormones such as melatonin, which governs sleep. When days shorten, that signal weakens. Rates of SAD rise at more northern latitudes, where winter days are shortest.

The end of daylight saving time compounds the problem. Cold weather and early darkness keep people indoors, and typical indoor lighting runs about 300 to 500 lux. A sunny midday outdoors can reach 10,000 lux or more. Many people spend November through February getting a fraction of the light their bodies are used to.

Bringing the sun indoors
Bright light therapy is a well-studied first-line treatment for SAD. Clinical guidelines describe a standard routine of about 30 minutes a day in front of a 10,000-lux light source, early in the morning, without ultraviolet light. Users don’t stare into the light. They read, eat breakfast or check email while it shines toward their face.

“Our company started in Alaska, where people know dark winters better than anyone,” said Cort Christie, CEO of Alaska Northern Lights. “What we’ve learned over three decades is that consistency matters most. Turn on your light box every morning, starting now, before the shortest days arrive. It’s one of the simplest habits you can build for the season.”

Alaska Northern Lights’ LED light boxes, including the compact Aurora LightPad Mini, deliver a full 10,000 lux of UV-free light at a comfortable working distance, so they fit on a desk, kitchen counter or bathroom vanity.

Five ways to protect your mood after the time change
1. Start light therapy early. Begin a morning routine in early November rather than waiting until symptoms set in.
2. Get outside in daylight. A midday walk, even on a cloudy day, provides far more light than indoor rooms.
3. Keep a steady sleep schedule. Wake and sleep at consistent times to help your body adjust to the clock change.
4. Stay active and connected. Exercise and time with friends both support mood through the winter.
5. Talk to a professional. If low mood lasts more than two weeks or interferes with daily life, see a doctor or mental health provider.

Light therapy is not a substitute for medical care. People with bipolar disorder, eye conditions, or those taking light-sensitizing medications should consult a healthcare provider before starting. Anyone in crisis can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

About Alaska Northern Lights
Since 1993, Alaska Northern Lights has designed bright light therapy products to help people beat the winter blues. Founded in Alaska, the company offers 10,000-lux LED light boxes for home and office use. Learn more at AlaskaNorthernLights.com.

Media Contact: Jessica Loggins – 702-324-9243 · Jessica@AlaskaNorthernLights.com

Jessica Loggins
Alaska Northern Lights
+ +1 702-324-9243
jessica@alaskanorthernlights.com

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