Christine Blume

And beyond the effects on sleep, we know that patients in brighter rooms experience less pain and less stress.

And also, the effects of daylight on mood are well established.

So I thought it might be time for me to put into practice what I often preach.

And I have to confess that usually I'm much better at giving advice than following it myself.

But here's what I did.

So first, when it became free, I asked the nurses to move my bed to the window place, because that does not only give you power of the fresh air supply, which is highly recommended in the hospital, but it also maximizes daylight exposure, even though you're inside.

Second, as soon as I could leave my bed again, I went to the park for short walks.

And last, every meal I had, I tried to take on the little balcony.

Did it work?

Well, that's a bit difficult to say because it, of course, was a single-case study.

But from patients suffering from insomnia, so one of the most common sleep disorders, we know that light therapy is beneficial.

And therefore, I would like to encourage all of you, and perhaps especially those who might belong to the 25% suffering from sleep problems, to start your own single case study.

Thank you.