HappyLight - Does it actually work?

Improve Mood and Energy
Natural Spectrum Daylight cues the body's natural energy enhancers, improving mood, energy levels and creating an overall sense of well-being.

Regain Focus, Concentration & Productivity
Balanced Natural Spectrum Daylight gently helps the body recalibrate and stabilize, reducing fatigue and lethargy, improving focus and concentration.

Image: Relationship between symptoms of "Winter Blues"
and length of day (photoperiod)
Source: Winter Blues.
Dr. Norman Rosenthal, M.D. 2006

"Verilux® HappyLight will help you feel like you're on a beach in the Caribbean. Full spectrum or natural white light is effective in assisting with mood and sleep disorders associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder or the Winter Blues. Light therapy promotes the body's natural energy enhancers to lift spirits, sharpen concentration and improve energy levels. Verilux® is the leader in developing products that emulate natural sunlight using full spectrum lighting technology. The therapeutic light system bathes you in invigorating Natural Spectrum® "sunlight" helping to address the effects of reduced exposure to natural light.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the "Winter Blues", or seasonal depression, are medical conditions caused by the seasonal change in the amount of available sunlight. People who suffer from these mood disorders experience normal mental health throughout most of the year, but experience depressive symptoms in the darker winter months. Loss of natural light can be the result of long winters, rainy weather, night shift work, airplane travel and subsequent jet lag, or just a lifestyle that dictates too much time indoors. Symptoms of Winter Blues, or winter depression, are sluggishness, sleep problems, memory loss, the inability to concentrate and loss of mental acuity, depression, confusion and sexual dysfunction. Symptoms of the "Winter Blues" (a milder form of SAD) includes a lack of energy, depression, listlessness and cravings for sweets and carbohydrates."

"Plug into a properly grounded outlet and turn the unit on using the on/off switch. Allowing a few minutes for the bulbs to achieve full illumination, position yourself facing the HappyLight®. Light therapy consists of sitting close to the Sunshine Simulator with your eyes open. However, do not stare directly into the unit. While staying oriented toward the light, feel free to engage in other activities such as reading, checking emails, hobby making and crafting, sewing, needlepoint, painting, or working at a computer or desk.

Usage time depends upon your body and how it responds to light. Typical exposure is 30 minutes per day. The ideal exposure time is in the morning, soon after waking. You should experience results within a week of daily exposure. It is recommended that you limit your exposure to the light during the evening, as it might affect your ability to fall asleep. Each person's sensitivity to light is different. It is important to establish a distance and schedule that is comfortable for you. We recommend you use the light regularly and at about the same time each day. It is not necessary to sit in front of the unit continuously. You can divide the time into several mini sessions. Continue to use the HappyLight® daily until you feel an improvement in your mood and activity level."

• SAD affects as much as 10% of the population.


• SAD is most pronounced in the northern United States, with a greater daylight variance from summer to winter.


• SAD affects women more than men by almost a 3 to 1 ratio.


• SAD's more debilitating form includes problems sleeping, change in appetite or weight, loss of memory, lack of concentration, severe depression, confusion and sexual dysfunction.


• Symptoms of the "Winter Blues" (a milder form of SAD) includes a lack of energy, depression, listlessness and cravings for sweets and carbohydrates.

"Based on Amazon reviews of its predecessor, Verilux Natural Spectrum HappyLite Mini Ultra, Silver, I decided to give this item a try. I've been using it now for a couple of weeks and really like it. It sits at about 2 feet away from me on my computer desk. On the low setting (recommended during the evening), it produces a nice glow that took just a few minutes to get used to. The high setting (recommended during the morning) is pretty intense, but I imagine with time you'll get used to it.

My continuing lack of motivation and incredibly annoying low energy level that I knew was due to the winter blues made me immediately buy this product after a friend recommended it to me. Supposedly another friend bought a HappyLight for his lab area and also used it in the evenings while writing his dissertation. The friend reported the light to be highly effective in maintaining concentration during the evening. In addition to my waning low energy and mood levels, that testimony made me want to purchase this light immediately. As a doctoral student, I'm always at my home computer desk if I'm not in the classroom learning or teaching. And I'll soon be spending all of my hours late into the evening writing my dissertation.

It was incredibly easy to set up. It's nicely packaged and requires no assembly. Just plug it in, switch it to either the half or full setting and enjoy. Again, I've only been using it for two days, but a previous reviewer (from the earlier model) said that he spoke to a Verilux representative, who advised that you'll know within an hour if it's for you. Well, I know it's for me, and if you're interested in adjusting your mood for the better and getting out of that winter funk mode, give this product a try. I hate that I waited this long to research preventative measures and solutions for the winter blues." Verilux VT05FWW1 HappyLight 6000

"I have a HappyLite Mini Plus (this one) and a Mini Ultra. For roughly $20 less (at the time I write) you get two Mini Plus as compared to one Ultra, so it's a very good value. The only downside that I found is that the bulb is not as good as on the Ultra. It's more of a standard twisted fluorescent so it doesn't fill the lamp area quite as well as the taller Ultra, which has a straight bulb and gives slightly better light.

Bottom line, however, is that it works very well. I use it nearly every morning as I'm getting my day started, and it helps me to be more awake throughout the day. It's a big help during the winter when there's a lot less sunlight." Verilux Natural Spectrum HappyLite Mini VTCP01

"when i got my happylites, i was hoping to take an edge off the winter blahs and stop my own depressing thoughts in their tracks. well, this did the trick... by placebo or the real thing, i have had more energy and felt like doing more in the past few months than i normally would. looking for just a little pick-me-up, i separated the lights, placing on one my desk where i work at the computer on some mornings and one on my bedside table. i have that lite on a timer and it comes on about fifteen minutes or so before my alarm goes off. since i hate my clock, this has made getting out of bed so much easier. no more snoozes and no more threatening the clock with a flight across the room. my mood has been steadily elevated and sustained, and the best thing about these lights is there are no crazy chemical side effects. if you are looking to find an alternative method of dealing with depression, the happylite is a good choice. i know that everyone is different, but these lites have really helped me!" Verilux Natural Spectrum HappyLite Mini VTCP01