Many people, especially those that live in northern regions with longer winters, suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It is a condition that literally makes individuals sad and depressed due to lack of natural sunlight and Vitamin D. Fortunately, simple light therapy has proven very effective in the treatment of this condition.
However, most commercially manufactured light boxes that are used for SAD therapy are very expensive. The instructions here will allow you to make your own light box for significantly cheaper. The most important factor is making sure you use the correct and that you are getting at least 10,000 lumens (the actual light output of the bulbs).
Instructions
1. Screw the four 18-inch 2-by-6s together at the ends to form a square.
2. Attach the 18-inch-by-18-inch piece of plywood or MDF to one side of the square, screwing it into all four corners. This will create an open box.
3. Drill six evenly spaced holes into the 18-inch-by-18-inch plywood that are large enough to hold your light sockets without falling out.
4. Insert one light socket into each of the six holes, with the bulb part inside the box and the cord outside. Stabilize them if necessary.
5. Place one of the full-spectrum compact fluorescent light bulbs into each of the sockets.
6. Plug the light bulb cords into the power strip. Then plug the power strip into an outlet to ensure that all of the lights are functioning properly.
7. Once you have ensured that the electrical parts are working, unplug the box from the wall.
8. Drill small holes into each corner of the 18-inch-by-18-inch sheet of frosted plexiglas.
9. Screw the plexiglas sheet to the four corners of the front of the light box.
10. This particular light box will emit 10,500 lumens. Use the light box according to your physician's recommendations.
Tags: into each, four corners, holes into, light bulbs, power strip, your light