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It’s been said that the COVID-19 pandemic has spawned other pandemics, such as an economic pandemic and mental health pandemic. A less-discussed but equally important pandemic that has been exacerbated by COVID-19 is seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
SAD most often strikes in winter, but it can technically affect someone any time they don’t get enough natural light. With more people staying indoors this year due to stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions, instances of seasonal affective disorder are spreading.
Unlike the coronavirus, there thankfully is a proven treatment for SAD: the light therapy lamp. Light therapy lamps (also known as SAD lights or daylight lamps) mimic sunlight indoors, helping to prevent the worst effects of seasonal affective disorder. We read countless daylight lamp reviews to come up with this list of the 10 best light therapy lamps for SAD prevention.
Carex’s Day-Light Classic Plus light therapy lamp fits on a stand on your desk, projecting light downward as recommended by experts. It provides the doctor-recommended 10,000 LUX of glare-free white light at a comfortable distance. If you don’t believe this is the best light therapy lamp, then check out the thousands of glowing (pardon) the pun Carex light therapy reviews on the internet.
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Verilux has a range of compact and affordable ‘Happylight’ light therapy lamps, the Luxe being its flagship product. This is a highly customizable light therapy lamp, with four different levels of brightness, different colors (daylight to warm white), and a countdown timer. Its sleek, tablet-like design makes it easy to take with you on your daily routine.
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Alaska Northern Lights is known for state-of-the-art light therapy lamps, including the North Star 10,000. This lamp provides the doctor-recommended 10,000 lux at a larger distance than any other SAD lamp on the market. It may be big, but it is still compact enough for table-top use or to pack up and take with you to the office. It’s also equipped with a quiet electronic ballast with no irritating flicker.
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The second Verilux product on our list of the best light therapy lamps, the Happylight Compact does exactly what it says. Its discreet, small size makes it extremely versatile, enabling its use at home, in the office or anywhere else you like. The Happylight Compact offers the equivalent benefits of 10,000 lux while you work and study – without you even noticing it’s there.
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Philips, the giant multinational electronics and medical products company, has always been involved in lighting technologies. The SmartSleep Wake-up Light, one of its best recent innovations, is designed to promote your well-being. Instead of rudely interrupting your sleep with noise, the Philipps Smart Sleep Wake-up Light wakes you up naturally and gradually with natural light.
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The Aura Day Light lamp comes with a free stand, enabling it to be easily mounted onto the wall. This certified 100% UV-free lamp features a patented lux-adjusting dial that gives you control of the light intensity. Dial it up to 10,000 lux for maximum light or down to 3,500 lux for a moderate dose of sunlight.
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With a unique 46-inch tall design, the Flamingo Floor Lamp brings light into your lounge area, work space, or working-out space. It comes with a long power cord for easy placement. Extra cords can be hidden in the base of the lamp. Made from quality metal, this powerful floor light therapy lamp is also electronically powered – preventing flickering.
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Circadian Optics builds stylish and minimalistic light therapy lamps. The Lampu, a compact SAD lamp, was designed with a focus on flowing curves and clean lines. From the front, it projects a minimalistic feel. At the back, the detailing of the venting and subtle use of color gives off the appearance of sophistication.
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VAVA’s Baby Night Light is a baby night light that can also be toggled to a warm light ‘sun’ mode to give your child something resembling natural light. It has easy touch settings: just long-touch the top to dim the light, tap twice to enter standby mode, or hold 1.5s to enter night light mode.
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Designed by scientists from Australia’s Flinders University, Re-Timer is a revolutionary light therapy product that helps you sleep. Wearing the glasses for 30-60 minutes per day gets your body’s circadian rhythm in the right spot for a good night’s sleep. It’s perfect for anyone who does shift work or just has trouble sleeping in general.
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