You may find that as the days get shorter, your energy starts to decrease. It can be hard to stay motivated when the seasons begin to change. Everyone is different, though many of us struggle to find the same energy as we get less and less sunlight. Daily tasks can seem a bit more difficult as days get shorter and we move it from Summer to Fall.

It can be helpful to identify what is challenging for you. Perhaps the seasons changing don’t affect your mood or energy level. If you don’t find it that affects you that is amazing. For most of us though, as we move from Summer to Fall, we do notice some changes in the way that we feel.

I find it particularly difficult when it starts to be darker in the morning while most people struggle with it getting dark earlier in the evening. Yes, I do miss having sunlight as we go into the end of the day but as more of a night person this is less of a concern. I’d love to be a morning person, though alas I am not. Having it be dark at 7am doesn’t help anything.  

Could It Be Seasonal Affective Disorder? 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) isn’t uncommon however, most of us ignore the changes we experience if they aren’t severe enough to be considered SAD.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is characterized by sad mood, decreased energy, appetite changes, sleep changes and general decrease in wanting to do the things that you enjoy. These changes sound a lot like depression for good reason,  SAD is a type of depression. However, what makes it different from a major depressive disorder per se is the fact that you mostly experience symptoms during season changes.

These symptoms may seem pretty obvious if you are in tune with how you’re feeling. You would probably notice this going on, especially if it happens annually. The problem is that most of us don’t notice it if we experience mild versions of these symptoms. We tend to only take notice when symptoms are more extreme or our functioning is severely inhibited.

Pay Attention to How You Feel When Change is Happening

It is important to touch base with yourself as changes are happening whether they are changes in our lives specifically like if we are moving, have a relationship change, have a career change, go to school, graduate school from school etc. Change is constantly happening all around us whether we are driving the change or simply impacted by it. Change can be really good, though it is expected that you will have feelings about it. 

The seasons changing happen routinely, so you may not even consider this as a type of change that could impact how you’re feeling. 

Touch base with yourself as the seasons are changing. As we are now moving from Summer to Fall and the days are getting shorter, be sure to ask yourself how you’re feeling. It isn’t uncommon to feel that your motivation is starting to wane. Motivation is tricky, it ebbs and flows. You cannot wait to feel motivated to do the things that you want to do. If you wait until you feel motivated to do something you may never do it. Start doing the things you know you need to do to feel better. 

What causes problems is a problem. If you’re not feeling yourself as the season changes, as the days get shorter, you aren’t alone. Working with the right counselor can provide space for you to address these changes and get back to feeling like yourself. Don’t wait until things become unmanageable to ask for help. 

It can be hard to acknowledge that season changes are affecting you. It can be hard to pretend that they aren’t. Choose your hard, my fellow humans. And don’t forget, therapy can help.

Jaime Johnson Fitzpatrick LCMHCS, LCAS is one of the Owners and Vice Presidents of Carolina Counseling Services. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the State of North Carolina as well as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in State of New York. Jaime is also certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and utilizes various other approaches in her practice.