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It’s Texas, you’d think we were all immune from the winter blues or any version of seasonal depression with our fairly light winters, in comparison to the rest of the country, but southerners can still feel the effects of the season. When it’s colder, you may lack energy or motivation, making work, errands, and socializing incredibly hard. Let’s talk about why our bodies seem to have a negative reaction to winter and what we can do to rise above.
Winter days are known for having shorter days and less sunlight, a lack of which can throw our bodies out of whack in a few different ways. Johns Hopkins cites that when it’s dark outside, our bodies make more melatonin. That increased production completely dysregulates our biological clocks. This clock controls important things, like your sleep cycle and your hormones. When your hormones aren’t balanced, that’s when we see mood changes, weight gain or loss, and issues with our skin and hair. You’ll find that it becomes harder to make decisions or think quickly and you may even lose interest in things you typically enjoy.
Cold air can have a negative effect on the human body any time of year, according to the Center for Disease Control. Your muscles stiffen, there can be greater risk for respiratory issues, and your likelihood of injury increases. And when it comes to getting things accomplished—your productivity is in the gutter. The National Library of Medicine published a study that showed that people experienced chronic pain when working in cold environments: typically neck, shoulder, back, and leg pain. There’s probably no overachieving happening in a cold office and that may be the least of your worries if you’re just trying to stay awake. Cold actually causes sleepiness, as your body’s metabolism slows down to preserve energy.
Isn’t winter a treat?! But what can we do to combat these downright depressing symptoms?
Get outside
You have to be unapologetic about basking in the few hours of sun a winter day provides. Block your calendar and take midday walks—or if you’re feeling sluggish—standing in a sun ray for a few minutes can do wonders. Now of course, there are days where there’s just no sun, but even the daylight can be beneficial in giving you a bit of vitamin D.
Take your vitamins
Taking a vitamin D supplement is a good idea all the time, but particularly in winter. B vitamins like B6 and B12 can help raise your energy levels and aid brain function. Iron can help regulate your body temperature and also boost energy. Vitamin E will reduce skin inflammation and help your skin to retain moisture.
Watch your diet
Make sure you’re eating vitamin-rich foods and not weighing yourself down with too many carbohydrates and sugar. Winter foods tend to be heavy anyways, and then we’re naturally eating more as a symptom of the season. Breads, cakes, red meat, and even alcohol—these zap your energy. Lean into foods like oats, beans, bananas, and chicken.
Plan activities you’ll look forward to then stick to the plan
We all joke that we hibernate in the winter, but force yourself to show up to that friend’s birthday party. It’s part of giving your body the fuel it needs to regulate itself. Also, plan something you’re really excited about. When our mood is off, sometimes we need a glimmer of brighter days to move us through the dark ones.
The winter season is truly a time to test our resilience. While sleeping for 12 hours straight and canceling plans can seem dreamy—and on some days truly necessary—we have to make sure we don’t take it too far and completely fail our bodies and minds. Life is still happening through snow, rain, and freezing temperatures, so let’s live it—after a nap.
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