Are you SAD these days? No really? Do you suffer from Seasonal Depression Disorder, or the winter blues?
We see it year after year. The season change, the friggin' cold, and then there's daylight savings… Unfortunately, it only gets worse with added stressors like pressures from work, more than normal alcohol consumption, and the compounding effects of being inconsistent with exercise.
The symptoms can manifest in many different ways, but lack of motivation, food cravings, mood swings, and constant state of fatigue are the more transparent ones. The numbers don't lie-- as class attendance at SCF dwindles a bit from November to February. If you're feeling a little down these days, we empathize with you and have some advice:
Get some sunlight when you can. Whether it's working in front of your office window, or taking a daily walk in the afternoon, the sun is a megadose of vitamin D. A daily walk outdoors for at least 15-20 minutes a day increases your "NEAT", which is your Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis. This burns tons of calories and takes little effort.
If you think you need a boost, why not try taking a Vitamin D supplement, which increases serotonin? It's sold over the counter and can only help if you think you're deficient.
Another hack is to change your sleep pattern by going to bed a little earlier and wake up earlier so that you can get some more daylight. It will take some adjustment, but it certainly works. Lack of sun exposure increases your production of melatonin, which is why you might feel sleepy and sluggish lately.
If you can't seem to find the mojo to workout while it's dark outside, why not try sneaking into a 7am or 12 noon or even 3:30 every so often? Not everyone's schedule allows for it, but if yours does, give it a shot. Remember your mental health is also a priority and it goes hand and hand with your physical health.
So, if you think you're struggling with seasonal depression, you might want to get ahead of it before it gets worse.
Keep crushing, Shoreline CrossFit. You're the 1% of the world who are self-aware and proactive about their health!
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