‘Sun therapy’ may be good for business as well as health

A friend who recently returned from a trip to Florida commented that the environment in the Northeast appeared to be gray.

His description of the Florida environment was colorful.

There have been numerous studies about the benefits of sunlight and the impact on some people by the lack of sunlight. For some, this seasonal lack of exposure to sunlight has resulted in depression and numerous other negative symptoms. There is even a name for it: Seasonal Affective Disorder.

We have often seen the advertisements for devices that emulates sunshine. Those devices promise that with a brief daily exposure, the effects of the lack of sunlight can be reversed for the user.

I cannot verify or dispute the claims of those products. I can, however, verify that time away for “sun therapy” can be beneficial.

I believe that there is a direct correlation between executive strategy sessions that take place in warmer climes in the first quarter of the year and the desire for sun therapy. These executive retreats may also be close to golf, tennis or other outdoor exercise activities.

There are numerous organizations that hold their recognition events for team members in warm locations in late winter and early spring. The decision to hold events this time of year connects several good ideas. A few of the converging concepts might be: The destination locations might have lower costs this time of year. The need of team members to experience “sun therapy,” whether they recognize it or not, is high. The opportunity to be recognized for a job well done early in the year can be a motivation for the rest for the year. You may have your own list of reasons to get some sun therapy this time of year.

I worked with an insurance client who owned a small hotel in a Florida resort town north of Miami. Years ago, it cost the organization about a million dollars a year to operate the facility. There were also a few cars that were available to team members and guests who visited the facility. The facility was used for team meetings, executive retreats, recognition of team members and meetings with key clients. For a company with a Midwest home office, a trip to Florida in the winter and early spring was a welcome change. I believe the operational expenses for the facility constituted a good business decision.

If your organization cannot afford its own hotel, there are other options that can get you or your team members away for some sun therapy. Business conferences and seminars often are held in warmer locations this time of year. There are condos in various communities that lend themselves to short-term rentals or ownership by an organization. There is a wealth of short-term rental options on the internet, and let’s not to forget the traditional hotel and bed-andbreakfast venues.

Combine a business trip to a warmer climate with a business meeting, education or retreat, and you may find organizational benefits to all who go away for a bit of sun therapy.