A Case of the Winter Blues
Known more seriously as Seasonal Affective Disorder (appropriately abbreviated to SAD), the winter blues come around every year, but somehow still manage to catch me by surprise every time. The second the clocks fall back an hour and the sun starting setting before 5 pm life starts to feel like a bit of a dark, depressing tragedy. But, fear not, the winter blues are very much a manageable condition, one which I’d like to think I’ve gotten quite good at dealing with and can share my hacks on with you.
How do you know if you’re suffering with SAD?
Whilst it’s widely recognised as a condition that clears up on its own once the clocks spring forward again, people suffer with SAD to varying degrees, depending on several factors in their lives but majorly where they live. There’s a tonne of research that has gone into this condition, but in particular I think this NIH article gives some of the best descriptions for how the condition can have effects on your life and be treated. Fortunately, most of us do not face such severity of SAD and instead deal with the winter blues, which is much milder.
Do you feel like the second it gets dark, it’s time for dinner & bed?
If you do then you’re certainly not alone. I find myself walking home from the library slightly earlier, and not making any kind of plans after 4pm because I have it in my head that the second the sun sets, the day is over. But then again, my plans are often thwarted by lectures appearing in my schedule (I knew they were there the whole time) at 4 or 5pm, and I find myself walking home in the dark.
It’s on these days that I remember that the day doesn’t actually end at 4pm, and I still have another 5 or 6 hours of being an awake and functional human being. It’s dark and cold and, yes, some days I find it in myself to make plans and go out for the evening, but other days I find I just want to curl up on the couch or my bed and stay in the warmth of my house. Both are more than acceptable outcomes for an evening. I find that a healthy balance for me is to find my way out of hiding after dark once or twice a week (especially weekends!) and spend the rest of the week either curled up and relaxed or doing some much needed uni work.
It’s important to take measures to ensure that you don’t feel the effects of SAD too strongly, and there’s certainly many available. Some of my personal favourites are listed below.
Get outside for daily walks - yes, it’s freezing and yes it’s not perfectly bright and sunny but the positive impact of time outside in fresh air is immeasurable.
Try a new Winter hobby - whether this be super outdoorsy or just picking up something you’ve been wanting to try for a while, the shorter days where you spend more time at home are perfect to get a jump-start on something new!
Regular exercise - I’m quite fortunate in that I play netball and thoroughly enjoy its season through the Winter, but some sports don’t enjoy such luck. Why not try heading to the gym more often or getting out for a crisp morning run?
Take a break from your screens - being inside so much means you’re likely to be glued to your phone or the tv (I know my viewing hours pick up!) and it’s always a good idea to take a break from them - maybe even, read a book…
Make plans with friends - I love a good brunch or drinks at the pub, or why not try combining this with my first idea and getting out for a walk with a friend?
Struggling from a complete lack of motivation?
Honestly, me too. I think that heading into the colder months and certainly in the run up to Christmas when there are better things to be thinking about, focusing on my university studies is the last thing I find myself wanting to do. But nevertheless, sticking at it is more important than ever in the run up to Christmas, with the first batch of exams for the year for many of us sitting on the other side of the Winter break. I’ve found a few ways to hack my schedule and hopefully you can gain something and maybe apply my little hacks to your lovely lives.
Have a morning routine - I find it far easier to get up in the morning and get moving if I’m doing the same things every day, so don’t really have to think about it.
Schedule your days - on Sunday every week I take some time to plan my week ahead and make sure that I have a schedule to stick to, to make sure that I get everything done I need to during that week.
Find something to look forward to, every day - whether that be going to the gym, meeting up with friends or catching up on some tv, having something to look forward to each and every day is a sure fast way to ensure that you’re always moving forward.
Whilst it may be the coldest of the seasons, it’s not all dreary and depressing and there’s certainly many things to look forward to (hello Christmas). I do hope that none of you suffer too much with SAD or the winter blues and are all able to take something from this week’s article to build on for a happier Winter ahead.
Next week we’ll be sticking to the theme and delving into my Winter must-haves and I hope to see you all there. None of the questions in this week’s article are rhetorical (nor will they ever be), so feel free to comment below if you have any questions or thoughts to share! Have a lovely week and, as always, keep refining.
Mia