Wintering Well: Bringing Lumie Mini to East Dunbartonshire Libraries
As daylight hours are limited, we may experience lower mood and energy levels and it can feel difficult to stick to our usual routines. Recognising the profound impact that light has on our overall sense of well-being, East Dunbartonshire Libraries launched a Wintering Well scheme last winter in partnership with the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh to help those who struggle with the lack of daylight.
What did the Wintering Well scheme involve?
The scheme was developed to provide public resources which support winter well-being, offered through a library loan system. One hundred wintering well boxes were available for loan, each containing valuable resources for the winter months including a Lumie Mini bright light therapy lamp, a cardboard "sky frame" and information on an open access online course for those who experience seasonal mood changes.
How do light therapy lamps help with seasonal mood changes?
Light is the strongest synchroniser of our circadian rhythm so without appropriate light signals throughout the day, our rhythm can become out of sync, impacting our sleep, mood and energy. Bright light therapy lamps mimic natural daylight to supplement the light cues which are missing from our environment during the darker autumn and winter days and when we spend significant periods of time indoors, to help regulate our circadian rhythm.
What were the outcomes of the Wintering Well scheme?
The wintering well boxes were hugely popular with library users, with a total of 207 loans and 349 renewals! Feedback collected by those who took part in the scheme expressed that they had seen a positive difference in their mood and overall sense of well-being throughout the dark winter months as well as staying more active.
Professor Hester Parr who launched the scheme shared:
"Living with SAD can be challenging, but our research shows that using a combination of resources and support pathways - social, cultural and technological - does help in reducing the annual inevitability of this condition, or at least the severity of it. There is less stigma around SAD because of public programmes like 'Wintering Well at the library', which give people the opportunity to talk about what helps them."
In recognition of its incredible impact, the scheme has been provided with a national award at the EDGE conference!
If you are experiencing low mood and energy levels in the darker months, there are a range of Wintering Well resources available online as well as a BBC Radio 4 Winter Well programme filled with tips to support your well-being.
For further details on bright light therapy and the range of products available, you can explore our full collection here.
Always remember to speak to a medical professional if your symptoms persist.
