I've always been the sort of person who likes the sunshine. I hate sitting in dimly lit rooms where I can barely perceive shapes, let alone read anything. For this reason I really like my 2x 36W High CRI fluorescent lamps which I have on my ceiling and my bright high CRI LED desk lights.
However, since early 2022 (can't remember exactly), I've had my curtains shut most of the time, which means no daylight in here. I only get daylight when I go outside. Its amazing how this messes with your thoughts. I've thought it was cold and raining outside and I've dressed accordingly to go out, only to find it was hot and sunny. There's been a few occasions when people have telephoned and I've asked them what the weather is like because I can't see. Fortunately, the weather is such a normal topic of conversation in England that no one thought it odd.
The real problem though, is that I've become very sensitive to light. Now, when I go out, I find I am reliant on wearing a cap and often my sunglasses, even in winter. I was walking around Leeds on Saturday - as the clouds started to go, I really couldn't manage with the light and had to put my sunglasses on. I struggle walking across the hallway some days to go to the toilet due to the sun shining through the window.
This is now starting to affect my ability to sleep during the day. Despite having wooden blinds and blackout linings on the curtains, enough light comes through to keep me awake. When I lay there with my eyes closed, I can tell when the clouds come over, because the ambient light in the room changes. I'd have never noticed this in the past.
Maybe I should start using my 'big' fluorescent lamp again. Most of the time nowadays I just use a more 'cosy' 20W filament lamp, unless I want to read something.
