It’s official! Fall is underway. The leaves are falling, air is cooling, and daylight is disappearing. But is your mood changing as well?
Many people experience a shift in mood and behavior during the transition from one season to the next. During the summer you may feel more energized and motivated, whereas in the winter, you may feel depressed and irritable. If you experience these mood changes, don’t worry. You’re not alone. In fact, sunlight may be to blame. Shifts in light exposure could have something to do with these mysterious mood fluctuations.
Sunlight has many positive impacts on your health. It helps you feel more positive and lively, and it provides Vitamin D, an essential nutrient in immune strength and bone health. It also regulates your circadian rhythm, commonly known as your internal body clock. Your circadian rhythm moderates when you eat and sleep so your mood is standardized each day. The more light you are exposed to, the more likely you will be active and cheerful. When withheld from sunlight, you may feel sluggish and unhappy.
These negative emotional states can significantly impact your ability to make healthy food choices and stick to your exercise routine. When you find that you lack energy you are more likely to skip the gym. When you become easily annoyed you are more likely to indulge in high-fat, high-sugar foods for their hedonic, calming effect. Because these foods and skipping workouts make you feel better temporarily, it is easy to develop the habit of doing these things to improve your mood.
So, if you recognize that your body is succumbing to the effects of decreased sunlight, take action right away. Turn on some music and have yourself a dance party on those gloomy days where you’re stuck inside. Also, take full advantage of the sunny days that do come around in the fall and winter. Grab your friends and family and play in the leaves, or grab your boots and go snowshoeing when it’s snowy. Just because the summer has come and gone, doesn’t mean your energy level has to go with it. Staying active is just one way to help keep you happy during those dreary days.
Turn on the music & see what happens. You may be surprised to see yourself dance around all alone in the house:) Just do it!!! What do you have to lose? Just put the music on:)
I love this post and it helps me to understand why I feel like skipping a workout when the weather is bad. I don’t need to do that and I know it.
Excellent and concise ! Important information for everyone as we head into fall and winter!
Yes it is real that in winter you feel housebound. But in CA it is not like that. Every day is bright and cheery. Fall is so beautiful. Just came down RT 395 and the trees are bright yellow against the green pines. So lucky to be here in CA with my family.