This article was written by Ronda Swaney and was featured in our July issue of Home By Design magazine. To visit the original Home By Design article, click here.

SUN-DRENCHED

There’s no denying that weather is personal. Everyone has a favorite type due to biological preferences, favorite activities, etc. Many people plan warm-weather vacations, but some choose to make a permanent change. If you are toying with the idea of a climate-inspired move, here are some health reasons to help you along.

Encourages Exercise.

Sunny days lure people outdoors for a hike, cycle, or swim. Colder temps and rainy weather dampen the enthusiasm of all but the most battle-hardened athlete. Sunshine also inspires walking and moving even when the goal isn’t exercise, such as a quick walk to the store or doing a few chores in the garden. Another bonus of sun exposure is increased vitamin D levels. Vitamin D helps regulate calcium and phosphorous levels, which promotes bone health; it’s also believed to impede cancer cell growth.

Enhances Your Mood.

You’ve likely heard of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a condition that negatively affects mental health during fall and winter months. A study done at Brigham Young University found that, rather than seasonal change alone, depression and negative mental health were affected more by weather. In areas where there was more sun time—times of day when the sun was out and the weather was temperate—there were fewer instances of negative mental health. The key was being able to get outdoors for a portion of the day to enjoy available sunshine.

Matches Natural Rhythms.

The dark and the light trigger two essential hormones—serotonin and melatonin. Serotonin helps stabilize your mood, decreasing anxiety and increasing happiness. The hormone helps you stay attentive and awake during the hours when you need to be most alert. Sunlight is a natural serotonin booster. Conversely, as the day darkens, serotonin subsides and melatonin levels rise. Melatonin calms you and helps you sleep at night. In sunnier places, these sunlight cues help you stay balanced even during winter months when hours of daylight and darkness become more even.

Soothes the Body.

Cold air is hard on the lungs, making it difficult to breathe for those with asthma, COPD, or bronchitis. Frigid air also tends to be dry and can irritate the respiratory tract, leading to coughs, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Warm air more closely matches body temperature, making irritation less likely. Human bodies do a good job of protecting the brain from cold (except under extreme conditions), but the cold also drives distraction. If you’ve ever worked in an office colder than you prefer, you may have noticed how your thoughts flit between the tasks at hand and how to get warm. Cold weather changes tend to be accompanied by drops in barometric pressure. Those drops in pressure and temperature often place strain on joints and muscles, causing pain and stiffness. Again, warmer weather more closely matches the body’s baseline temperature and places less strain on the skeletal system.

You may consider relocating to warmer areas for cost of living, job opportunities, or retirement. Whatever stage of life you are in, the health benefits of sun chasing just might seal the deal.

CHASING THE SUN

Here, we share some top sunny and healthy destinations in the US. Raleigh, North Carolina Average January High Temperature: 50° F Sunny Days per Year: 213 Health Claim to Fame: 76% of residents exercise at least once a week. Miami, Florida Average January High Temperature: 74° F Sunny Days per Year: 236 Health Claim to Fame: 52% of residents go to group fitness classes weekly. San Diego, California Average January High Temperature: 66° F Sunny Days per Year: 266 Health Claim to Fame: In 2020, the city ranked #1 in fitness in the US. Sedona, Arizona Average January High Temperature: 60° F Sunny Days per Year: 278 Health Claim to Fame: There are five national parks (including the Grand Canyon) within a one-to three-hour drive of Sedona. Austin, Texas Average January High Temperature: 61° F Sunny Days per Year: 300 Health Claim to Fame: With only sixty-five rainy days per year, Austin is one of the sunniest spots in the US.