What pops into your mind when you think of autumn? Think about it for a moment... A warm mug of cocoa in front of an open fire? The leaves on the trees turning shades of orange and brown with the smell of bonfires lingering in the air? Or seemingly endless months of darkness and feeling lethargic?
For some people thoughts of autumn and winter can trigger anxious thoughts relating to the dark nights
and mornings meaning it can be an incredibly difficult time of year. With daylight hours shortening and the clocks going back an hour, the long periods of darkness can reduce motivation, give a sense of claustrophobia and make travelling to and from work in the dark for 9-5 shifts rather disorientating.
It is more serious, however, for people who have been diagnosed with SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a mood disorder that has been recognised as such since the 80s. Symptoms of SAD include increased appetite, weight, and hours slept, anxiety, low mood and decreased activity. SAD has a biological cause and according to the ‘circadian hypothesis’ the hormone melatonin is central to the condition.
Have you ever felt like you wanted to hibernate through winter? Night time causes our bodies to produce melatonin which increases sleepiness and as the seasons shift from summer to winter the timing of this process moves out of sync with our sleeping pattern and body clock. Unfortunately we cannot slow down and hibernate through the winter months like our prickly hedgehog friends do as we still have some form of responsibilities such as work, families, etc. So it’s no surprise that a lot of people struggle with energy levels during these months.
The good news is that there are things that we can do to boost our mood and look after our wellbeing as the nights draw in. Here are five tips that will do just that.
Keep to your normal routine
Try not to give into the temptation of cancelling your hobbies or your regular routine just because it’s cold and dark outside. Keeping to your normal routine will help you feel better. Or you could even try a new activity or hobby.
Exercise
A workout can do wonders for your wellbeing by boosting your endorphins so whether it’s at the gym or outdoors, there are many benefits to working out. Get the best of both worlds by combining outdoor exercise with indoor exercise, for example, go walking outdoors and get that fresh air and mix it up with weight training sessions indoors.
Food
Try and eat proper meals which contain good sources of protein and fibre and will help you feel good as opposed to sugary treats that can make you feel sluggish (after the temporary energy boost) and can also lower your mood.
Relaxation and Mindfulness
Do something that helps you relax whether it’s reading a book, taking a bath or listening to music. You could even try some mindfulness. I recommend the app 'Smiling Mind' which has programmes for all ages.
Let the sunlight in
As soon as you wake up open all blinds and curtains and let as much natural light in to help your body wake up.
Trying the above tips should help you feel good and able to enjoy the positives and the beauty of the autumn and winter months.
Partly taken from : https://www.thecounsellorscafe.co.uk/single-post/2018/09/04/Looking-after-your-wellbeing-as-the-nights-draw-in