Nectar of the gods (sunlight)

An essential part of the optimalist's health stack

Author

Swanagan Ray
February 10, 2024

It’s been an amazing morning.

Where I live, the weather is 70 degrees and sunny today.

Incredible enough to go on a 5+ mile bike ride with my 2-year old son.

The perfect day.

But it’s been a really dreary week. Coldish (45 degrees F) and overcast.

It was also an extremely stressful week. Lots of 9-5 stuff and side work issues.

But on the bike today with the sun on my shoulders, all that stress melted away.

Like it never even happened.

I felt like Thor does drinking mead.

Getting a shot of energy from the nectar of the gods.

When I got home I drew this graph:

As exposure to sun increases, happiness increases linearly.

So, I am including it in my Optimalist’s Energy Stack:

  • Lifting weights.

  • Writing every day.

  • Cold plunges and sauna work.

  • Significant exposure to sunlight.

  • Spending quality time with my family.

  • Playing music in high energy environments.

  • Interacting with high achievers and people that are excited by their work.

Based on the significant increase in energy, decrease in stress, and increase in overall feeling of happiness, sun exposure will be a priority for me going forward.

Here is my plan that you can steal:

  • On sunny days, do as much as possible outside (write, eat, walk, talk on the phone, all outside)

  • On inclement weather days, go to an infrared sauna if possible and available

  • Exercise outside (run on the road instead of treadmill, do outside kettlebell workouts instead of the indoor gym)

Obviously care should be taken to avoid skin cancer, so I’ll be careful and use sunscreen.

But overall, the more time spent outside the more your mental health will thrive.

Get some.

Swanagan

P.S., if you refer my email list to 5 people, I’ll send you a t-shirt for free: