Depending on where you live, Winter can be extremely cold and miserable. A change of seasons can definitely have you feeling out of sorts.
While it may be hard to believe Winter can have an impact on mental health, as the days get colder and shorter, you can often experience a shift in mood. While our mood being affected by the weather may seem trivial, the Winter blues can have an effect on anyone, even if you’ve experienced positive mental health throughout the year.
So this is what the effects of winter can look like:
- feeling low in mood more than usual
- lack of motivation to do anything or go out because it feels too cold or too much effort
- comfort eating
- A feeling of isolation, particularly if you’re working remotely and not seeing much of your colleagues in person
- You may also feel a little bit more under the weather due to common colds
So to beat those Winter Blues …
There are many things you can do retain good mental health. These include:
- Regular exercise
- Eating healthy nutritious meals
- Spending 10 – 15 minutes outside to increase your vitamin D levels
- Doing activities you enjoy
Fortunately, Winter only lasts a few months before leading into Spring, which studies have shown is Australia’s favourite season!
So rug up, keep warm, please don’t suffer in silence! Reach out if you need support.