# Why do I feel a strong urge to turn on the lights when sundown is still nearly two hours away? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 27, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396 "2025-07-27T19:53:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/1 "2025-07-27T19:53:35Z")
Where we live the sun currently doesn’t set until about 8:40. But sure enough, at around 5:30 or 6:00 my wife and I both feel that we must turn on the lights, because it somehow just seems darker, like the shades of night are descending upon us. This only happens in late spring and early summer. At the opposite end of the year, when the sun sets befire 5:00, we don’t experience the same motivation to turn the lights on at, say 3:15. To be clear, in both situations I’m referring to days that are clear and bright, with no overcast. Is it typical to have this experience? ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/2 "2025-07-27T20:58:09Z")
I wonder if it has to do with the direction of the light coming through your home’s windows? The sun is in a different direction while setting in the winter versus in the summer, and that may be the whole difference. Also in the winter, the sun never gets that high in the sky, so your experience of sunset might be more gradual than in the summer when the sun is coming down from quite high in the sky. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/3 "2025-07-27T21:36:30Z")
Some folks also never quite adapt to DST and although they don’t consciously notice being discomfited by it after a few days, they still maintain some habits tied to standard time. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/4 "2025-07-27T22:12:52Z")
The intensity of sunlight changes pretty dramatically throughout the day, from about 1000 lux at sunup/sundown to 100,000+ at noon. Or more, latitude dependent of course. Our eyes and brains adjust but this is why you can burn in no time at noon and not burn at all after 6pm, even though you have no problem seeing in either situation. The difference between noon lux and dusk lux in winter is less dramatic, so you don’t get the same sense of “where has all the light gone”. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/5 "2025-07-27T22:17:19Z")
You’re not wrong. Sauron has Mount Doom spewing darkness into the air to blight the hope of the free. But… Wind is changing! ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/6 "2025-07-27T22:20:50Z")
Why not. It can’t hurt anything and might increase safety. The amount of additional fuel you consume due to the extra load on the alternator is probably negligible. Does anyone want to do the math on this. Not me. One of the neighbors is serving bratwursts and queso in courtyard for everyone in just a few minutes. That beats doing math by far. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/7 "2025-07-29T12:21:28Z")
That’s my guess too. At first I was going down the same line of reasoning as @steronz, but the fact that they don’t do it in the winter made me think maybe it’s not a physiological thing. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/8 "2025-07-29T13:00:00Z")
The OP is talking about in their home. You seem to be talking about while driving. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/9 "2025-07-29T19:27:08Z")
I had no idea people were talking about anything other than headlights on cars. Am I the only one? ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/10 "2025-07-29T19:29:29Z")
> [@Ynnad](#): > > Am I the only one? Yes. Seemed clear to me the OP was talking about at home. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/11 "2025-07-29T20:03:40Z")
The title is fully ambiguous. The OP itself is pretty darn clear it’s about at home. Many people reply to the thread title without really reading the OP or the intervening posts. Speaking only for myself, don’t be that guy. I read the title (and preview) to decide whether to open or ignore the thread. Having opened it, I ignore the title and read only the OP and following posts. Many, many posters cannot write a title that matches their OP. ---
**Author:** ![Ynnad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4491bb/32.png) [@Ynnad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ynnad)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/12 "2025-07-29T20:25:31Z")
I was so convinced the OP was about car headlights that when **Andy\_L** said in a reply “… I wonder if it has to do with the direction of the light coming through your home’s windows? …” I thought **he** was the one getting off topic. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/13 "2025-07-29T22:56:47Z")
Even when I’m right, I’m wrong… ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/14 "2025-08-02T11:14:27Z")
I live in a flat that can seem quite dark because it ‘s in a converted warehouse and daylight only comes in from one side, and no direct sunlight after noon. So yes, I can identify with the OP. But also, might the hibernation instinct be activating a bit early? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/15 "2025-08-12T03:25:22Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > The intensity of sunlight changes pretty dramatically throughout the day, from about 1000 lux at sunup/sundown to 100,000+ at noon. Or more, latitude dependent of course. It could be that I’m somehow still not used to living 10° farther north. It’s been seven years since we came here but before that I grew up in SoCal and lived most of my life there. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/16 "2025-08-12T12:52:57Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > …in both situations I’m referring to days that are clear and bright, with no overcast. Is there a tree casting its shadow on your home at that particular time of day/year, or some other shadow? I sometimes feel compelled to turn on the lights if it starts to get a bit cloudy in the evening I think because I’ve gotten so used to the brightness of the sun coming in through the windows at that particular time that any reduction feels darker than it actually is. I sit next to a west-facing window and even with the shades down it can be pretty bright. So if the sun goes behind a tree or a cloud, it makes the rest of the room suddenly feel quite dark. It’s not unlike coming inside after being outside. The change is quicker than our eyes are able to adjust. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/17 "2025-08-13T09:14:00Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > I wonder if it has to do with the direction of the light coming through your home’s windows? The sun is in a different direction while setting in the winter versus in the summer, and that may be the whole difference. Also in the winter, the sun never gets that high in the sky, so your experience of sunset might be more gradual than in the summer when the sun is coming down from quite high in the sky. My thought combines those two. I know it is time to turn on the lights when the sun gets low. In summer, the sun gets low and slides around the horizon for a while before it sets. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/18 "2025-08-13T11:30:52Z")
I have always turned my lights on in the late afternoon a couple of hours before dark. My least favorite time of day. When it gets fully dark I turn off some of the lights and just leave a lamp on. I think twilight plays with our eyes if we are indoors. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-a-strong-urge-to-turn-on-the-lights-when-sundown-is-still-nearly-two-hours-away/1021396/19 "2025-08-13T12:02:27Z")
Makes sense