Why does living in the sun not automatically mean feeling less stressed?

There’s a fantasy most Northern Europeans have, that moving somewhere sunny fixes everything. For Brits and Germans its Spain and Australia. For Parisians, it’s the Riviera.

There’s certainly a happiness that can be found in blue skies and warm evenings. But many think that life in hot countries is stress-free - and that’s where we begin to lose touch with reality.

The data doesn’t back up the sunny-country stereotype

Sunny, sunny Greece ranks as the most stressed country in Europe. Greece. One of the sunniest countries in Europe.

Malta, Cyprus, and other Mediterranean nations also appear high too in these stress-inducing rankings, while many rain-soaked northern neighbours are less stressed.

Now, before we get too into confounding variables and drivers, we can agree that the economy is at play. But still, it shows that sun doesn’t fix existing stressors. So, ask what you’re running from.

Stress is complicated

Sunlight offers real mood and sleep benefits - but geography still isn’t everything when it comes to stress. Rather ironically, the body actually responds to heat as a stressor, then poor sleep compounds the problem (and the body sleeps better in a cool room, not a hot one, as one core temperature must fall).

It takes more than booking a flight south to lower stress. It takes a holistic approach, from sleep and work to exercise and supplements. This is why Mama Kana, a specialist CBD brand, has blown up - it’s clear that CBD, therapy, and physical wellness all contribute far more than sun.

Heat itself can be a physiological stressor

We can recognise that if you’re without sunlight, you can get SAD and vitamin D deficiency, but this is separate to stress.

Research shows that higher temperatures were associated with higher cortisol concentrations and higher activity in CNS stress response. It makes sense, because being too hot is not comfortable, or conducive to a great night’s sleep, as it raises core temperature, dehydrates us, and can cause inflammation. Sleep is massive for stress.

Don’t mistake heat-induced lethargy for genuine calm

So, in the north European fantasy of lazing around a pool or taking a siesta, ask yourself whether feeling slow, heavy, and lethargic is actually a sign of being unstressed? The body under a lot of sun is trying to preserve energy, it’s a protective mechanism, not a parasympathetic one. It has the appearance of a laid-back lifestyle, but that’s not explicitly what’s going on - people are quite literally just not rushing around much because, if they do, they will overheat and put their body under great stress. It’s not a choice.

Where sunlight genuinely does help

Of course, this isn’t to say places like Spain doesn’t have a culture of being socially laid back and relaxed, or that sunlight can’t be super helpful. Exposure to sunlight, when managed correctly, can increase serotonin (boosting mood and feeling calm), and vitamin D. It can also allow us to do more outdoor games and exercise (again, so long as the heat is managed) compared to hostile rain.

Getting sunlight in the day can help regulate melatonin, which can help with our sleep, so long as we have AC (or other means to stay cool during sleep). Our circadian rhythm is super important to managing stress, and this can be improved with sun, and things like limiting caffeine and taking CBD.

Overall, sunlight is both good and bad for stress, placing the responsibility back on the individual to correctly manage their lifestyle and environment.