While winter can be a happy occasion to some as they prepare to celebrate the holidays, it can cause a drop in mood, energy, and motivation in others- but what is it that makes you feel gloomy and tired during winter?
The main reason is reduced sunlight, which in turn affects your body’s internal clock. When there is no sunlight your body produces melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel sleepy and tired. Additionally your pituitary glands also secrete serotonin that destabilises your mood.
The cold temperatures and longer nights may also affect your overall mood and energy levels. You may, therefore opt to avoid socialiaing or even participating in physical activities. You also may end up adopting unhealthy habits that can negatively affect your health and lead to stress.
Here are some strategies you can employ to avoid falling into a winter slump.
Eat a Healthy Diet
When it gets cold your body may experience a craving for meals rich in fats, carbohydrates, and sugar. However, it would be best to avoid such meals since they will only make you feel energised for a short while and leave you feeling moody, tired, and lethargic.
Instead, get your body used to a healthy diet long before the start of winter. Your diet should largely comprise whole grains, plant protein, and vegetables.
You could try adding in CBD products too, as CBD has been found to have a positive effect on overall mood. Here is a beginner guide you can use to learn more.Delta 8 THC is another option that you could go for within the cannabinoid product family, though you will need to check its legal status where you are before you go ahead and purchase, as it is more tightly controlled than CBD. While Delta 8 may produce a slight high, it doesn’t get you as high as Delta 9 does
Exercise Regularly
As you start feeling moody and sleepy it is easy to drop any healthy routines you had created, such as exercising, and opt to stay in bed. However, you should avoid being sedentary all the time and exercise regularly. When you are sedentary feelings of unhappiness and low self-confidence can arise. When you exercise, your body produces hormones that can ease your anxiety and improve your physical and mental health.
Get Some Light Therapy
Rather than staying indoors, take advantage of any chance you have to enjoy some daylight. By exposing your body to sunlight you can readjust the sleep-wake cycle back to normal. Even though it may be cloudy just the exposure to natural light is key to better emotional health.
Get Enough Sleep
It is common to become moody and have trouble focusing if you do not get enough sleep. Your body requires sleep for it to heal your mind and body. Ideally you should sleep for not less than 7 to 8 hours every day. With enough sleep your body will feel more relaxed, allowing you to take on the day’s activities with enough energy.
Practice Relaxation Techniques
A winter slump can lead to the development of stress and anxiety disorder, both of which negatively affect your health. Try to raise your mood and energy by engaging in exercises that can make you relax or even try CBD gummies. Relaxation is the opposite response to stress.
You can employ relaxation practices that include mindful meditation, breath focus, visualization, yoga, tai chi, and qigong. Rather than sticking to one technique, you can try several to find out what works best for you.
Summing Up
Do you feel moody during winter? Your moods have a direct relationship with the winter weather. As it gets colder, your body fails to keep its complex chemical and biological rhythms in sync. As a result, you may feel tired, sleepy, and moody.
Failure to take charge of your body can lead to stress and even depression. However, you can fight the winter blues by keeping active during winter and embracing healthy habits such as having enough sleep and eating healthy meals.
