# Does afternoon sun energize you?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-afternoon-sun-energize-you/630232>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 3, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-afternoon-sun-energize-you/630232 "2012-08-03T00:00:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-afternoon-sun-energize-you/630232/1 "2012-08-03T00:00:46Z")

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Read in Yahoo news years ago, of doctors advising professionals to sun themselves for 5 to 10 minutes after lunch. This will make them more energetic in the afternoon, avoiding sleepiness, coffee, or even the 20-minute nap. Is our built-in “solar cell” that effective?

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-afternoon-sun-energize-you/630232/2 "2012-08-03T03:55:26Z")

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The mechanism here isn’t the sunlight as such, but convincing your brain it’s daytime by going somewhere bright enough. A good lamp would achieve the same effect.

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**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-afternoon-sun-energize-you/630232/3 "2012-08-03T04:06:54Z")

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**Derleth** , exposure to the sun in safe amounts does have physical and psychological benefits though, does it not?

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**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-afternoon-sun-energize-you/630232/4 "2012-08-03T06:07:43Z")

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Me, no. I’m being treated for fatigue and headaches caused by afternoon sunlight.

New glasses stopped the headaches, fatigue still kicks in every day ~2pm.

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**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\
**Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-afternoon-sun-energize-you/630232/5 "2012-08-03T06:20:00Z")

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> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#):
>
> **Derleth** , exposure to the sun in safe amounts does have physical and psychological benefits though, does it not?

Yes, at least to the extent it aids in Vitamin D production and especially if you have Seasonal Affective Disorder (in which case you have a sun _lamp_, which mimics sunlight better than most artificial lighting).

That said, using the sun as a quick pick-me-up is all about the effect light has on the sleep cycle.