Can the Seasons Really Impact Our Moods?

If you have not been feeling yourself over the last few weeks but you cannot quite figure out why, there may be a good reason for it. You might be persevering and continuing as if nothing is happening, or you may have even started to wonder if you are just making it up!  But sometimes we need to trust our intuition because no one knows your body better than you do.

I mention this because Autumn is now in full swing, the leaves are starting to fall, the nights are drawing in and there is a chill in the air. These changes to light and temperature can have a real impact on the human body because sufficient light and warmth helps with our survival. As the seasons change, our body changes, and it can reflect in how we feel.  

You may have heard of the ‘winter blues’ or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which can start during Autumn and Winter, resulting in low moods, reduced energy, increased appetite, and a general feeling of not quite being yourself.

If you are experiencing any of these things, please don’t panic however, I am not trying to label you with SAD and it doesn’t mean you have it, but I wanted to mention it because a change in how we are feeling as the Winter months draw in is real, whether you have SAD or not.

The good news however, is that there are things you can do to help!

Before I dive into this, I will share a little information about why our mood and energy may change at this time of year. It has been suggested that the reduced level of sunlight in Autumn and Winter can disrupt our circadian rhythm (our biological clock) which can cause us to have lower energy. The reduction in sunlight can also cause our serotonin (our happy hormone) to reduce and increase our melatonin levels, which makes us feel more tired.

We may not be able to change the amount of sunlight we see over the next couple of months (unless you are fortunate enough to go abroad on holiday that is!), but there are a number of things you can implement which will help.

So here are my Top 5 Tips to help keep your moods and energy up during the colder months:

1. Move!
Exercise and movement are a great mood booster and helps to stimulate the release of our happy hormone serotonin, which I mentioned previously. If you struggle to get moving during the colder months I am right there with you! But I promise you, you will feel better for it if you get moving each day, so do your best to push yourself to do it.

2. Make the effort to see some daylight.
Sounds simple, but with work and other commitments it can be easy to spend the whole day inside. Do your best to get outside and see some daylight each day, especially when the sun is shining. This will help to improve your mood, energy, and overall wellbeing.

3. Supplement with Vitamin D3.
Known as the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is essential for many functions of our body including bone health and immune system function. It has been talked about a lot over the last few months due to the coronavirus, with research highlighting its positive impact on our immune system. It has been suggested that everyone would benefit from some form of supplementation over the Winter months. Not only is this great for our health as mentioned previously, but there have been links to suggest it can help regulate our moods and assist with depression.

Eating foods such as salmon, egg yolks, spinach, kale, and mushrooms are a great natural source of the vitamin also so try to include these in your diet. We stock a liquid form of Vitamin D3 in the centre, so if you would like more information, feel free to ask at your next visit.

4. Try to attend socials.
If you do notice a dip in your mood or energy, it is natural that you may feel like you want to withdraw from people and avoid social interactions. But sometimes seeing friends or family or putting yourself in a situation where you have to interact with others, such as going to your favourite café, can be a good way to change your thought pattern and improve your mood.

5. Try to manage those cravings.
At this time of year our desire for higher carbohydrate and sweet foods can increase. Try your best to keep these to a minimum and as a treat, and focus on having whole foods such as fresh vegetables, proteins and omega-3’s. This way you will avoid the spike in blood sugar levels which can cause a big drop in our moods shortly after. If you would like more information on this topic, click here to read our previous blog on nutrition.

Some of these tips may sound quite basic, but small changes can make a real impact when it comes to our health.

Finally, I just want to mention that if you are struggling to cope, please consider seeking help.  Speaking to a friend or family member about how you are feeling can really help to take some pressure off, or having a conversation with your registered health care professional such as your chiropractor at your next visit, or making an appointment with your GP.

I hope you have a great week.

With love,
Sarah