Today has been named Blue Monday, apparently the most miserable day of the year. To help banish the blues, VELUX has released a collection of mood-boosting daylight photos from its creative photography competition celebrating daylight.
Professor Russell Foster, a judge in this year's Lovers of Light competition, reminds us that accessing as much natural daylight as possible is crucial to conquering any blue feelings. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter thought to be a contributor to feelings of happiness, increases when the body receives sunlight.
He says: "Subtle changes that we can incorporate into our everyday lives that make the most of daylight's numerous benefits can significantly help boost our mental and physical health and well-being."
The Lovers of Light competition closes on 31 January - to enter, view the gallery or find out more, visit www.velux.co.uk/loversoflight
Sunrise from Apgar, Lake McDonald, Montana, by Phillip BirdPhillip Bird/VELUX/BlipfotoSantiago Sunset, Chile, by Robert W GriffithsRobert W Griffiths/VELUX/BlipfotoCrazy Sunrise, Ladle Hill Hampshire, by Naomi AndersonNaomi Anderson/VELUX/BlipfotoSuper Clouds Day, Scheveningen, The Hague, by Roger SteyversRoger Steyvers/VELUX/BlipfotoThe Last Sunset of 2013, Nene Park Peterborough, by Sarah LambertSarah Lambert/VELUX/BlipfotoAnd So it ends, Lake Annecy, France, by Richard DysonRichard Dyson/VELUX/BlipfotoReflections, The Hague, by Farishta StakenburgFarishta Stakenburg/VELUX/BlipfotoPuddle, Curbar Edge, by Martin HollingworthMartin Hollingworth/VELUX/BlipfotoForest Light, Ireland, by Michael HowardMichael Howard/VELUX/BlipfotoSunset over Bad Wolf Bay, South Wales, by Steve HughesSteve Hughes/VELUX/BlipfotoEvening Light on Cliffs, Hofn Iceland, by Jillian WilsonJillian Wilson/VELUX/BlipfotoMoonlight Mountain, Mount Taranaki, New Zealand, by Tessa PalmerTessa Palmer/VELUX/BlipfotoTail of the Storm, Long Strand, Ireland, by Caroline LeftwickCaroline Leftwick/VELUX/BlipfotoDays Like This, Slieve Bearnagh County Down, by Brian McCreadyBrian McCready/VELUX/Blipfoto