Seasonal Affective Disorder, or, as it is aptly abbreviated, SAD, has rightfully gotten increased attention over the last decade. This disorder is one that affects a huge portion of the UK population, ranging widely from those with pre-existing mental health conditions to those that are otherwise neurotypical.
The exact mechanisms of SAD aren’t fully understood, but there are some key attributes to winter which go some way to explaining this upwelling of winter blues. The shorter days and longer nights can have a corresponding depressive impact in sufferers, as can the drop in temperature – leading to feelings of lethargy, despair and reclusion. If you find yourself drawing into yourself as the summer days draw to a close, what can you do to better manage your symptoms?
- Light Therapy: The Power of Natural and Artificial Light
The most immediate way in which to address the symptoms of SAD is to combat the most immediate change that the shifting seasons present: losing light. Natural light is our key source of Vitamin D, a nutrient responsible for bone and muscle health, and deficiency in which has been linked to anxiety and depression. Besides which, darker and shorter days are naturally more glum than those which offer hours of bright sunshine.
There are a few ways to tackle this, but the simplest – bar simply ‘getting out more’ – is to buy a SAD lamp. SAD lamps provide an artificial form of natural ‘blue’ light, stimulating our brains into wakefulness and hence helping with lethargy. They aren’t quite a source of Vitamin D, though, so you’ll still need to make use of what natural daylight you can get!
- Staycations: Escape Without the Stress of Travel
…and what better way to get your Vitamin D than by taking yourself off for regular breaks? Rather than inundating yourself with the various stresses of booking international jaunts, you could take smaller and more frequent staycation holidays to ensure you get a positive change of scenery, and the chance to soak up some rays distraction-free. A motorhome and the requisite motorhome insurance could even allow you to live out on the road for a little bit, particularly if you’re a remote worker.
- Physical Health: Gateway to Mental Wellness
Beyond light and space, it’s a simple fact that physical health and regular activity can be powerful tools for managing SAD. Exercising on the regular ensures your brain is properly regulating the release of its happiness hormones, and also gives you something positive to focus on.
Meanwhile, a healthy and balanced diet can ensure that your body isn’t left wanting for any essential vitamins or nutrients. Having more energy at your disposal, and eating well at regular times each day, can ensure you break through the brain-fog barrier while also getting healthy levels of sleep each night. In all, these can promote a healthy body and a healthy mind.
