Does it really work?
The science is stacking up for the mind-body benefits of awe. Here, one writer goes in search of a daily dose
THE GUINEA PIG
Some cook a meal on a
weekday evening, others disengage their brains by sticking on an episode. Me? I find my viewing pleasure in sunsets. On cloud-free evenings, when conditions are right, the pale pink sky makes me feel grounded; the natural, daily rhythm a useful reminder that, no matter what happened that day, tomorrow’s a blank slate.
The human connection with the sun runs deep, from Stonehenge to other seasonal solstice celebrations. It’s so innate that, according to a study from the University of Washington, the retina can detect specific colours of light only at sunrise and sunset. This affects the brain centres regulating our circadian clock, as well as mood and alertness. Sunlight can also trigger the brain to produce serotonin.
New research on sunrises and sunsets is even more enlightening. Astudy from the University of Exeter found that viewing them can increases feelings of awe – which improves your mood and wellbeing. The best part? You can access it from anywhere. ‘We assume awe has to be elicited with grand experiences such as seeing a huge waterfall or the Grand Canyon,’ says Alex Smalley, aPhD researcher at the University of Exeter. In reality, you can get it from gazing out your window, with the sun’s natural movements providing, as he puts it, ‘novelty in familiar landscapes’.
Intrigued, I wondered what difference it could make to my day if I started clocking in for the sunrise, too. For two weeks, I would alter my schedule to mirr
