As the seasons change, the weather isn’t the only thing that begins to change. The days get shorter and the temperature begins to drop. It is natural to start feeling physically and mentally different during this shift. 

Some changes can feel welcome, Fall isn’t referred to as the “cozy season” for nothing. Many enjoy this change, however, even if you enjoy the changing seasons you may begin to notice that it impacts in negative ways as well. 

The Importance of Healthy Habits

Healthy habits are important year round, however, as the seasons begin to change you may feel the urge to start changing your habits as well. Some of this is natural and to be expected, there are certainly things we can do in the summer that don’t work so well in the Fall. Some habit changes are not natural and can lead to difficulties further down the road. 

  1. Pay attention to your sleep wake cycles. Research does suggest that we may need more sleep during the winter months.  While this may be true, it is important to make sure you are getting enough sleep but not TOO much sleep. Sleeping too much can impact your alertness and energy levels throughout the day. It can also make it difficult to complete your daily tasks. As the seasons change try not to change your sleep habits too much. 
  2. Stay active. When it is cooler out you may feel more inclined to relax on the couch as opposed to going for a walk. While some of this is to be expected, don’t stop being active all together. Our activity level plays a huge role in our mental health. It is hard to feel like the best version of yourself if your physical activity tanks when the weather changes. 
  3. Don’t hibernate. You aren’t a bear. Be sure that you stay active in social activities you enjoy, even if it feels too cold to want to get out and about. You can still reach out to friends and stay connected even if you’d like to stay home a bit more than usual. 
  4. Create a routine. It can be hard to take care of yourself effectively. Creating a schedule can help. If you wait until you have time to take care of yourself, you never will. Schedule time for things like self-care, exercise, healthy eating, sleep etc. If you don’t make time for yourself you won’t take care of yourself. 

To Sum It Up

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is real, however, not everyone experiences all the symptoms that come along with it. Whether you meet criteria for SAD or not, it is important to be mindful of how you feel as the seasons begin to change. Don’t wait for things to feel unmanageable to take care of yourself. 

Seasonal changes lead to changes for most of us. Stay mindful and take care of yourself, you deserve it. Creating healthy habits can be hard. Not creating healthy habits can be hard. Choose your hard, my fellow human, and remember…. Therapy can help. 

Carolina Counseling Services contracts with skilled licensed therapists and psychiatric professionals that know how to treat SAD and how to help you build healthier habits. Call now to get started!