Are you struggling with seasonal change?

I still remember my first spring in the UK. It was March and I was a bit restless, expecting the weather to change for the better. It felt like my inner clock knew it was time for the season to change, but it was just not happening. I remember waiting the whole month and then booking flight tickets to Vietnam and Cambodia in search of the warmth I craved. 35 degrees? Yes, please! I stayed there for a few weeks hoping it would be spring by the time I came back.

This September things are a bit different. I flew back from sunny Croatia and was greeted by the rain and falling leaves. The sunshine and busy beaches feel like a million years ago, and the summer feels like an even more distant future.

The thing is, the changing seasons affect our brain, disrupting its chemical balance. There’s scientific evidence that humans are more prone to depression and mood disorders in autumn and winter due to the lack of sunlight. The main theory is that reduced exposure to sunlight causes lower production of melatonin and serotonin, the hormones that regulate our sleep, mood and happiness. It may feel like we’re at the mercy of nature’s change, but there are still things we can do to encourage our brain to produce more happy hormones.

  1. Positive interactions

Cold, rainy days can be a perfect reason to snuggle on the sofa and put a TV on.  However, if this becomes a pattern, we may easily find excuses not to go out and meet people. Maintaining loving, positive relationships helps boost our immune system and makes us stronger physically as well as mentally.

  1. Exercise

Research shows that physical activity can improve our brain health and encourage production of happy hormones – serotonin and dopamine. Exercise can enhance overall health and wellbeing, being a perfect antidote to low mood c affected by season change.

  1. Positive thoughts

It’s not always easy to stay positive when we hear about inflation, new viruses or wars happening in the world, and all the other negative things in the press. The thing is, there’ll always be a constant influx of information available, but do we need to be at the receiving end?  Instead of listening to the noise of the outside world, how about finding time for yourself to tune into who you are and what moves you forward.

  1. Let go of the things you don’t need

There’s something special about seasonal cleaning. It’s not only the objects in our household that find the right place, it’s our thoughts that become settled. Sometimes we juggle with too many ideas and options in life, but actually the more we’re in tune with who we really are, the easier it gets to choose what resonates and let go of what doesn’t.

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