Are you suffering from winter blues?
Over three quarters of Brits get the winter blues, says new research but there’s a simple way to help tackle this according to TV medic Dr Rob Hicks.
Although it’s only a few short weeks since the end of British Summer Time, over a quarter of Brits are already feeling less happy and around a third have spent less time outdoors than we did before the clocks went back.
According to a survey conducted last week by Anglian Home Improvements on the impact of reduced daylight on our general well-being, almost a quarter of us have felt more depressed, with around one in three people finding it harder to get motivated.
The Anglian survey shows a clear link between natural daylight and mood, motivation and productivity. This is something that health professionals have been aware of for a long time and is linked to a natural human instinct akin to hibernation, as explained by TV medical expert Dr Rob Hicks.
“These survey results come as no surprise to me because it is well recognised that most people feel down from time to time during winter. Many actually suffer with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a specific type of depression, thought to be caused by a lack of daylight, which leaves them depressed, and lacking in motivation and energy. This lack of daylight is believed to disturb the balance of chemicals in the brain and to upset the body’s internal clock. The result is too much melatonin, the hormone that makes us feel tired and ready for sleep, and not enough serotonin, the hormone that helps us feel happy. The consequence of this, and the disruption of the internal clock, is feelings of tiredness, lethargy, and low mood.
“Light is believed to help correct the imbalance between melatonin and serotonin, so spending as much time as possible exposed to daylight can help lift our mood. This can be achieved by being outdoors or when indoors being close to a window. If indoors, then a room where plenty of daylight is available such as a conservatory is a very good option. Exercise is also beneficial as it helps release endorphins, the ‘feel good’ hormones. So the trick is to keep active, whether outdoors or indoors, and get as much daylight as possible.”
The effects are not short-term either, with evidence showing that ‘winter blues’ can last until February.
Three quarters of respondents said the reduction in daylight during the winter has an effect on their sleep patterns and on their sense of wellbeing.
The short days play havoc with our leisure time and exercise patterns too. One in eight of those surveyed said they have already decreased the amount they exercise since the clocks went back, with 68% saying the lack of daylight over the winter months has a negative impact on their social life.
Tagged in Health