What If One of the Most Powerful Health Tools Isn't in Your Medicine Cabinet?

Reflections on Dr. Roger Seheult's conversation about sunlight, nature, and modern health

If someone asked you what your body needs to stay healthy, you'd probably mention nutritious food, exercise, sleep, or drinking enough water.

But what if we added one more essential ingredient to that list? Sunlight. 

A clip of the video interview embedded above, from The Diary of a CEO, popped into my social media feed. I listened to Dr. Roger Seheult argue that natural light isn't just something that helps us see—it's information our bodies have relied on for hundreds of thousands of years. Our brains, hormones, immune systems, and even our cells evolved expecting regular exposure to daylight.

Yet today, many of us spend the vast majority of our lives indoors. And the result? We may be unintentionally disconnecting ourselves from one of nature's oldest health resources. This resonated with me as part of the mission with The GO Deck is to help people make getting outdoors a regular part of their life.

We Were Built for the Outdoors

One of the themes that came up throughout the conversation is that humans evolved outside. For nearly all of human history, our days began with sunrise and ended shortly after sunset. Our bodies learned to use changes in light as cues for when to wake, eat, move, repair, and sleep. But today, that pattern has largely disappeared.

Many of us wake up to phone screens, commute in cars, spend the workday indoors, and relax in front of televisions long after dark.

Dr. Seheult suggests that many modern health challenges may not simply be the result of what we've added to our lives, but also what we've removed.

Morning Light Does More Than Help You Wake Up

One of the interview's biggest takeaways is the importance of getting outside soon after waking.

Morning sunlight helps synchronize your circadian rhythm (your body's internal clock), which influences sleep quality, energy levels, hormone production, mood, and mental performance.

Stepping outside even for just a few minutes (perhaps while drinking your morning coffee or for a quick walk with the dog) can help your brain recognize that the day has begun.

It's Not Just About Vitamin D

Most conversations about sunlight eventually turn to vitamin D. Dr. Seheult argues that while vitamin D is certainly important, focusing only on vitamin D misses the bigger picture.

Natural sunlight contains a wide spectrum of wavelengths that interact with our bodies in different ways. Researchers continue to study how these wavelengths influence our mitochondria (the tiny structures that produce energy inside our cells), immune function, inflammation, and overall health.

The message isn't simply "get more vitamin D." It's that sunlight itself may have health effects that supplements alone cannot fully replicate.

Nature Supports More Than Physical Health

One reason this conversation resonated with me is because it echoes something I've seen repeatedly while researching nature and health.

Spending time outdoors doesn't just benefit our bodies.

It can also help us:

• Feel mentally refreshed

• Reduce feelings of stress

• Improve our ability to focus

• Sleep better

• Feel more connected to our communities

We've become incredibly good at optimizing our indoor environments, but perhaps it's time we spent a little more effort reconnecting with the outdoor one.

Small Changes Matter

The good news is that you don't need to move to the mountains or become an avid backpacker.

You can begin with small habits like:

• Walking around the block on your lunch break or eating your lunch outside
  

• Reading a book on a park bench instead of on the couch.

• Watching the sunset at least once a week

These tiny moments may seem insignificant individually, but together they help restore something many of us are missing.

Why This Matters to Me

When I created The GO Deck, I wasn't trying to encourage people to become hardcore outdoor adventurers.

I simply wanted to make it easier to discover close-to-home nature spots so you can make getting outdoors a more regular part of your weekly routine...hence the 52 cards...see a new place every week of the year.

And you don't have to spend all day outside, just a short excursion to a local park or trail can have huge benefits for your health and well-being. 

Sometimes all it takes is picking a card...and stepping outside.

A special note on the video showcased above: Much of the research discussed in Dr. Seheult's interview reflects a rapidly evolving field. While the importance of healthy sleep, regular physical activity, and spending time outdoors is well supported, some proposed mechanisms—such as specific benefits of certain wavelengths of light—continue to be actively studied. As always, discuss significant changes to your health routine with your healthcare provider, and balance sun exposure with appropriate skin protection based on your skin type and local UV conditions.