After a lifetime in Alaska, I moved to California. I was surprised by the ways my lifestyle changed in the 'lower 48.'

"Living in a place where it's cold and dark for several months at a time can take a toll on even the toughest person. During Alaska winters, I'd go to work in the dark and come home in the dark. Summers bring almost 24 hours of daylight, but that doesn't necessarily mean sunshine, as Alaskan summers can also be quite rainy. The light made sleep extremely difficult, too."

"I often found myself experiencing a deep sense of gloom during the winter months that I couldn't seem to shake. Shortly after we left Alaska, I noticed my mood had significantly improved. I had more energy, was sleeping better, and spent regular time outside. California has much more sunshine year-round. I learned that I really needed vitamin D, and moving to a sunnier place gave my mental and physical health a huge boost."

I was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and spent nearly half my life there before moving to Las Vegas and later Sacramento. Alaska's cold, dark winters left me going to work and returning home in darkness, causing prolonged gloom, disrupted sleep, and exhaustion from long snow seasons. Summers brought extended daylight but often rain and sleep difficulty. After relocating to sunnier California, my mood improved, energy increased, sleep normalized, and time spent outdoors grew. Increased vitamin D from more sunshine contributed to mental and physical health gains. Walking became a larger part of daily life and meeting neighbors became easier.

Read at Business Insider