If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Am I depressed or is it just the seasonal blues?”, you’re not alone. It doesn’t help that despite our moderately temperate climate, our houses aren’t made to withstand those
The weather affects our mood more than we realise, especially when the seasons start to change. Picture this: it’s early autumn, the leaves are turning golden, and you’re feeling all cosy with your chai latte, dusting off those boots you covet and getting out the scarf collection. But as winter creeps in, bringing shorter days (why is it so dark at 4pm!) and colder nights, suddenly you’re not so chipper anymore. That’s where Seasonal Affective Disorder, yes SAD, jumps into the picture, making you feel like you’re stuck in a perpetual funk.
Do you feel persistently down, lethargic, and irritable as winter sets in, with little motivation to engage in activities you once enjoyed? You might find yourself craving more carbs and gaining weight, or struggling to concentrate and sleep properly. These symptoms often recur annually, typically beginning in late autumn or early winter and subsiding in spring or summer.
Even though these symptoms may seem hard to overcome, understanding this emotional rollercoaster is key to conquering it. Here are 5 ways to help banish SAD this winter.
1. Pay Attention to Your Light Absorption
Ever notice how a sunny day instantly lifts your mood? Sunlight boosts our serotonin levels, making us feel happier and more energised. So, when winter rolls around and daylight becomes a rare commodity, it’s no wonder we start feeling like grumpy bears in hibernation. An amazing way to boost light in winter is through L.E.D and U.V light therapy products, helping to increase your mood and alleviate the symptoms of SAD Check out Solalap – Australia’s no#1 SAD lamp!
2. Get Regular Exercise
There is nothing worse than getting out of bed on a cold morning to head to the gym, but regular exercise boosts serotonin, our happy chemical, so it’s important you keep it up. If you can, rethink your schedule and aim for a time you know you won’t bail on your commitment. Better yet, enlist a winter workout buddy to help keep you accountable or join a run club to keep those hormones thriving.
3. Keep Being Social
When the spicy margs in the sunshine are no longer flowing, organising catch ups with friends can seem a bit of a drag, but staying connected with loved ones is an important component to beating the winter blues. Make sure you’re connecting at least once a week, be it a cute coffee date or binge watching your favourite TV show together – then there is no need to leave the couch.
4. Schedule in Fun
Scheduling in fun doesn’t sound like much fun, but being intentional about actively bringing joy into every single day will go a long way to beat the symptoms of SAD. This will look different for everyone. Maybe it’s playing a game on your switch, making a new nightly tea ritual or getting back into that craft you’ve left collecting dust in the corner.
5. Watch Your Diet
You might want to stuff your face full of any carb and cheese combo that comes your way, but make sure you’re balancing that carb fest with fresh winter veg and wholegrains. Your diet has a massive effect on your mood and hormonal balance, so being intentional with your meals is a must during the warmer months. Jessica Sepell, founder of JS Health, has shared a plethora of healthy and balanced recipe ideas on her blog here. Big yes to yummy AND healthy food!
Understanding how weather affects our mood gives us the power to take control, allowing us to adapt and thrive no matter what Mother Nature throws our way. So let’s embrace the ups and downs of the weather rollercoaster, knowing that brighter days are just around the corner.
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