'Sunflower time' might just be the secret to making it through winter

It only takes a few seconds to feel better

We’re constantly moving our plants outside to soak up the sun, and according to TikTok, we should be joining them to beat the winter blues.

Every summer, we forget the pain of the colder months and fail to appreciate the constant sunlight while we have it, only to quickly find ourselves moving any plans we have outside the second the sun peaks through the grey clouds in winter. 

Finding yourself sprinting outside to try to photosynthesise like the houseplants you keep moving to the backyard? There’s a name for that. 

People are posting videos of their “sunflower time” online, stepping outside mid-workday to escape the stale air and offensively bright artificial lights of their offices. 

Creator @aubzwags posted a TikTok of herself soaking up the sun, headphones on, eyes closed, asking “does anyone else have to get up mid-workday to go outside and sunflower themselves like a sad little houseplant just trying to stay alive or is that just me?

The habit could be the trick to surviving this freezing winter.

Why does sunflower time work?

Sunlight boosts our mood

We know sunlight is crucial for our health.

So defrosting in the warmish winter sun can help to lower your risk of depression while fighting SAD. Image: Adobe Stock

Going for a walk or eating your lunch in the sun during your work break is a great way to boost your mood, energy, and get some much needed vitamin D. 

One in 300 Australians is affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression often experienced during the winter months. 

While the mood disorder doesn’t have one clear cause, reduced exposure to sunlight is believed to be a big contributor to the onset of symptoms.

So defrosting in the warmish winter sun can help to lower your risk of depression while fighting SAD.

A few minutes away from emails, meetings, and planning, just standing still with your eyes closed in the sun is the only time many of us get to practice mindfulness during the day. Image: Adobe Stock

Setting time for mindfulness

A few minutes away from emails, meetings, and planning, just standing still with your eyes closed in the sun is the only time many of us get to practice mindfulness during the day.

According to research from Subway Australia, four in five Australians don’t take their full lunch break, or skip it altogether, missing an average of 7.5 million hours of breaks that could be spent away from their gloomy desks. 

Even if you aren’t taking your full lunch break (you should be), just one minute spent in the sunshine doing absolutely nothing can quiet your mind, slow your breathing, and calm your body.

While people online have dubbed it “lizard time”, “photosynthesizing”, “charging”, “thawing out” and “defrosting”, they all agree that no matter what you call it, sunflower time is a game changer during winter. Image: Unsplash

Speaking to Bustle, psychologist Dr Hannah Holmes said, “This is a beautiful opportunity for mindfully enjoying the moment, which can reduce stress and reset your focus so you can return to the day feeling recharged.”

While people online have dubbed it “lizard time”, “photosynthesizing”, “charging”, “thawing out” and “defrosting”, they all agree that no matter what you call it, sunflower time is a game changer during winter.

“Everyday!!!! My grounding time”, one commenter wrote. 

“My boss will tell me to go recharge if I haven’t. I get cranky”, another shared.

If you’ve ever felt a little emotional seeing the sun after days of grey clouds, you know that even a few seconds of sunlight can do wonders for your mood. Image: Pexels

People are recruiting others to join in on their sun time too, with one creator writing, “used to do this when I worked at the library on my break every day. At first my coworkers would come outside and ask if I was ok. Eventually they accepted it, and started joining in”.

“Everytime the sun is out I call my sister to “go (put) your face in the sun”, another replied.

How long should you stand in the sun for? 

If you’ve ever felt a little emotional seeing the sun after days of grey clouds, you know that even a few seconds of sunlight can do wonders for your mood. 

But if you want to really photosynthesise to the level of a tall, happy sunflower, five minutes should be enough time to get a bit of vitamin D, slow your mind and reduce your stress levels.  Image: Pexels

But if you want to really photosynthesise to the level of a tall, happy sunflower, five minutes should be enough time to get a bit of vitamin D, slow your mind and reduce your stress levels. 

So if you’re finding it hard to stay motivated, energised, or keep having to stop yourself daydreaming about warmer months, step away from your desk for a few minutes and stretch out your poor hip flexors in the sun, while wearing your daily SPF of course. 

Originally published as 'Sunflower time' might just be the secret to making it through winter