10 top-rated light therapy lamps to get you through the winter
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Now that daylight savings time has passed and winter is quickly approaching, the days are getting shorter and shorter, which means there are fewer hours of sunlight. While some people are able to cope with the change in seasons, others struggle with the winter blues or even seasonal affective disorder (SAD). "For some of us, when the days become shorter and we lose those strong sunlight cues it can have an impact on our mental health, particularly if there are other stressful events going on in our lives at the same time," explains Dr. Allison Wilkerson, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences the Medical University of South Carolina.
One of the most common at-home coping strategies for SAD—or anyone who feels more lethargic or moody due to the lack of sunlight—is to use a light therapy lamp. Dr. Wilkerson recommends sitting in front of a lamp for at least 30 minutes first thing in the morning to strengthen your circadian rhythm. As for which lamp is the best, she recommends any bright lamp with white light of 1,000 lux or more that can angled downwards to prevent glare and mimic a sunrise to help with mood or sleep.
Dr. Wilkerson also notes that light therapy lamps can be used preventively, too—so even if you aren't experiencing any noticeable symptoms, you can still benefit from a lamp to keep your body's systems and energy levels in check. If you want to snag one for yourself before winter, below are 10 of the highest-rated, most popular light therapy lamps you can buy right now.
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1. This light therapy lamp with nearly 10,000 reviews
The number one best-selling light therapy lamp on Amazon, this Miroco lamp provides powerful 10,000 lux brightness that is completely UV-free and can be dimmed or intensified to three different levels of illumination (light, warm, and bright). Its 9,700-plus reviewers like that the lamp has a timer function, so you can control how long you're sitting in front of the light, and that it comes with an adjustable stand that lets you angle the light to any position.
Get the Miroco Light Therapy Lamp from Amazon for $37.99
2. This customizable light therapy lamp
Whether it's choosing between different levels of brightness, switching out the interchangeable lenses, or deciding whether you want to sit it on your desk or mount it to your wall, the VeriLux HappyLight can be completely customized to your needs and preferences. With 10,000 lux, full-spectrum light, the lamp has over 2,000 positive reviews, with many fans raving that it improved their energy and mood after just one use.
Get the Verilux HappyLight Full-Size Therapy Lamp from Amazon for $59.99
3. This wake-up light that mimics the sunrise
Waking up is hard to do and it's even harder when it's still dark outside. Help your body wake up with the sun—no matter what time it is—with this popular Philips wake-up light, which one of our editors owns and loves. It mimics the natural sunrise to wake you up gradually and gently and can also be used at night to help you wind down with its sunset setting. Rising and going to bed with the sun's rhythm (or, in the darker months, your light's rhythm) can help you feel more energized, according to Philips' sleep experts.
Get the Philips SmartSleep Wake-up Light from Amazon for $123.52
4. This Shark Tank-worthy lamp
Featured on Shark Tank, the Lumos light therapy lamp is the flagship lamp from Circadian Optics. With over 2,700 glowing (pun intended) reviews on Amazon, the lamp is the perfect size for desktop use and has a rotating light panel that you can twist and turn to whatever angle you prefer. It also has three levels of brightness and shoppers rave that it's very easy to operate.
Get the Circadian Optics Lumos 2.0 Light Therapy Lamp from Amazon for $39.99
5. This super lightweight light therapy lamp
According to nearly 3,000 reviewers, there are a lot of reasons to love this light therapy lamp from Taotronics, which is both razor thin and lightweight. It provides powerful full-spectrum, UV-free light that you can easily adjust with a dimming switch and a stand that allows you to rotate the lamp freely. People also like that it has an easy-to-set timer function and that it comes with a carrying case so you can take it with you anywhere.
Get the TaoTronics Light Therapy Lamp from Amazon for $32.99
6. This powerful light therapy box
Glare-free light, 10,000 lux brightness, a high-quality design—all features that have garnered this light therapy box a high rating from hundreds of Amazon shoppers. The 12-inch by 15-inch screen also means you can sit up to 14 inches away from the lamp, the furthest of all the lamps on our list. One reviewer gushes, "Spending 20 to 30 minutes in front of this light every morning has drastically improved my mood and energy level when it is too dark outside."
Get the Northern Light Technologies Boxelite from Amazon for $189.99
7. This portable lamp you can take on the go
If you're looking for a light therapy lamp that's not the standard box shape and a lamp you can easily travel with, you'll find both in this Miroco lamp. Over 5,500 reviewers have given it a thumbs up for its small size (it's just six inches by six inches), its adjustable levels of brightness, and its attractive design. Plus, don't be turned off by it's tiny packaging: It's just as powerful with 10,000 lux light.
Get the Miroco Compact Light Therapy Lamp from Amazon for $37.99
8. This adjustable light therapy lamp
This large light therapy lamp from Carex provides the glare-free white light that Dr. Wilkerson recommends and has a broad panel that allows you to sit a comfortable 12 inches away and still reap the benefits. Hundreds of reviewers enjoy that the LED bulbs are bright without being harsh and that the lamp has a flexible base that can be easily adjusted for the best positioning whether you're standing, sitting, or laying down.
Get the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus Light Therapy Lamp from Amazon for $114.95
9. This stylish lamp that doubles as decor
Light therapy lamps might be functional but many of them aren't exactly fashionable. Enter this one from Circadian Optics, which has a modern, sleek design that won't look out of place or clunky in your living room. It has a high rating from hundreds of reviewers not only because it looks good, but because its easy to operate with one button (no complicated controls!) and because the bulb is very long-lasting (according to the brand, it can last up to 50,000 hours).
Get the Circadian Optics Light Therapy Lamp from Amazon for $69.99
10. This highly-rated light therapy floor lamp
Not all light therapy lamps are pint-sized, desktop versions. You can also find light therapy floor lamps, like this one, which has a 4.5-star rating and stands four feet tall when fully assembled. Reviewers appreciate that it has a rotating head that's easy to adjust (so you can soak up as much light as possible) and that it provides 10,000 lux brightness at a distance of up to 12 inches so you don't have to sit super close to it for it to be effective.
Get the Flamingo Light Therapy Floor Lamp from Amazon for $279.99
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.