1. Lack of social interaction
It’s no secret that in the colder season, we spend more time indoors. This also means that we spend less time with other people. When you add a global pandemic, it is a recipe for disaster. We talk to people less, spend more time by ourselves, which leads to us feeling alone and depressed.
2. Not enough sunlight
With winter, come shorter days, most of which we spend inside working. So, by the time we leave work, whether it’s at home or in the office, it’ll be dark. This means you missed out on prime sunlight hours indoors. This can cause a deficiency in Vitamin D, leading to depression symptoms.
3. Poor diet
You can say that we tend to ‘hibernate' in the winter; by eating more and dealing with the holidays, which make us eat a ton of sweets and delicious treats. Having a poor diet and lack of whole foods and nutrition can cause some depression in most people.
4. Lack of exercise
Exercise releases endorphins in the body. Endorphins, as we know, make us happy. When we’re not moving, it’s more likely that we will end up feeling more groggy, fatigued, and stressed. Add this to all of the other reasons above, and you’re in for a very bad winter.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
There are ways you can combat the symptoms of SAD and have a better winter season.
Here are five solutions that might help!
1. Light therapy
It may seem weird to use a box that shines extremely bright light on you, but it works. There are many researches showing the benefits of using light therapy to mimic the daylight that you may be missing in the colder months.
2. Talk with your doctor
If you’re finding that the symptoms of SAD are disrupting your daily life, it may be time to speak to your doctor about ways you can combat them, such as SSRIs.
3. Move every day
Try to get some movement every day to keep yourself feeling productive and energized. This can be as simple as a daily walk or a vigorous 30-60 minute workout. Any movement counts.
4. Create a routine, even if it’s small
One of the easiest ways to combat these symptoms is to keep yourself busy with a scheduled routine. We thrive on routine as humans and having to-do’s that you do daily can keep us feeling the positive of having structure.
5. Join online groups
When you’re feeling lonely and stuck inside, sometimes it helps to join a group online that you can converse with other people about similar interests, health issues, or anything in between. Find a group that speaks to you and join it!
This year, we can combat SAD symptoms before they take over our lives. All it takes is a few steps every day, and you’ll find yourself feeling better more often than not.