Seasonal blues and how to manage them

Hi everyone!

This week I thought we could talk a bit about Seasonal Affective Disorder, and how we can safeguard our physical and mental health now that the Summer is behind us.

This time of year can be challenging. The colder weather can bring about greater physical and psychological discomfort, trigger worries about heating bills and catching contagious illnesses, and perhaps also elicit dread with the approach of Christmas.

I thought it might be helpful to discuss how we can shield ourselves against the potential negativity and challenges that the Autumn and Winter seasons can bring. Whether or not we officially suffer from SAD, or just have a mild dislike of the colder weather, there is a lot we can do to make sure it doesn't get us down.

Trying to get the most of any natural light available to you can be a good way to combat the seasonal blues. Particularly early in the morning it's beneficial for Vitamin D levels, improving our sleep quality, and boosting serotonin to get out into the light and take a walk. Even if it's overcast, we'll still experience some benefits! And if that isn't accessible or it's just too darn cold out, there are indoor lamps you can buy that mimic natural light and produce the same benefits.

Brightening up your environment with natural light but also with plants or things that bring joy can help, be it Christmas decorations, gifts from loved ones, or posters and artwork. Colour always makes me very happy, and I love to decorate my space for each season.

Eating well and exercising where possible can also help regulate your neurochemistry and keep your mental health in check. As the cold weather can mean a decrease in energy, planning ahead and doing meal prep that can be frozen and reheated later can make cooking a lot easier.

Trying to embrace the natural qualities of the season can also help. The Autumn is a time to pause and reflect on that which needs to be let go, much like leaves on a tree changing colour and falling. What things could you let go of that are no longer serving you? The Winter is a season of slowing down, a time to rest, regroup, and make plans for new projects to start in the Spring. It's a great time to be a homebody and enjoy peaceful hobbies and spending time with loved ones.

I'm very interested to hear about how the colder seasons impact you and how you go about navigating them. Perhaps you love this time of year and it brings you joy? All perspectives and experiences are welcome.

I look forward to seeing you all there :)

Zoom info:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73741609661?pwd=DSpjOAaFxXW4x0PIlbQIuJzrnHkDf8.1
Meeting ID: 737 4160 9661
Passcode: 2vkj6z