My Personal Phillips goLITE Blu Review

If you live somewhere where the winters feel like they last half the year then no doubt, like me, you miss seeing the sunlight. Since August last year we’ve had rain, snow and generally cloudy, cold days in the UK. It’s now just coming into March and there is no sign of better weather.

In recent years much has been documented about Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues), and the medical profession is fast realising that many cases of depression are heightened by SAD, and that some people are more affected by weather/light change than others.

SAD primarily affects those who live an “indoor existence” because we are biochemically designed to be exposed to sunlight. If you were born in a hot country and migrated to a cooler climate with harsh winters it is likely that you become lethargic and somewhat negative during months where you see little sunlight and stay indoors the majority of the time.

Those of you who’ve read the Six Steps book will know that I advise getting as much sunlight as possible, and getting out at least once a day for exercise of some description.

Lack of light exposure negatively impacts sleep, as does lack of exercise. The problem is, in certain countries the winters don’t permit much light or outdoor activity at all – the UK being one of them.

In such circumstances I highly recommend the Phillips goLITE Blu light therapy device.

I was bought one of these devices as a present by my wife two Christmases ago. She was probably sick of me moaning that I wasn’t getting enough sunlight or vitamin D.

The difference between this device is that it uses blue rays rather than straight light therapy. In the back of our eyes we have cells that are not used for vision. These cells have extensions that reach deep into the brain to the hypothalamus, where the body’s internal clock is believed to be located.

Daylight, or any bright light will influence those cells, but research has shown that these cells are twice as receptive to the blue light, and that blue light is far more effective in curing SAD.

Product Overview

The Phillips goLITE Blu is approximately 5 inches square and light enough to take to the office or a hotel. It comes with a faux leather padded carry case, internal battery and AC adapter, and a cool detachable metal stand to prop the device up.

If you want to save money you can go for the cheaper version that has no alarm clock and no internal battery

The device itself has a built in alarm clock capable of triggering the light when you wake up in the morning. However, it isn’t advisable to lie in bed and soak up 30 minutes of light once you have woken so I recommend taking the goLITE into the kitchen while you prepare and eat your breakfast.

I also recommend taking the goLITE to your place of work and doing a 30-minute session each morning during the winter months.

Ease of Use

It’s very simple to use and there are no technically challenging settings to play with. You simply set the time, set the duration of your session, and prop it up on a table near – but at a slight angle – to your face.

At first you may find it more comfortable to set the brightness to around 75%. But with time you’ll soon be maxing out at 100%.

My Experience

I honestly don’t use the goLITE in the summer months and hardly at all in the Spring. But when the days start getting shorter and the winter draws in I do sessions of at least 5-10 minutes each day to see me through the day.

I notice a huge difference in the way I feel now during winter and the way I felt a few years back. I feel less snappy and less irritable, more energetic and productive. But best of all I notice no difference in my sleep between summer and winter, and I put that down to the goLITE.

If you struggle with the Winter blues, and or notice negative changes in the quality of your sleep during the winter months, I highly recommend investing in a Phillips goLITE Blu.