Empowered for the Warm Season: Managing Winter Blues and Spring Fatigue
As the days grow shorter, many of us tend to our children in darkness and rush off to work, experiencing a dip in mood. The lack of light stimulates the body to produce more melatonin, our sleep hormone, which in turn dampens the dopaminergic and serotonergic systems responsible for drive, motivation, alertness, and satisfaction.
The Impact of Melatonin
Melatonin not only makes us sleepy and ensures good sleep but also induces melancholy. This increase in sensitivity can lead to feelings of insecurity. Self-confidence and self-esteem may falter, often resulting in nocturnal rumination about relationships, family, or professional challenges. The balance of neurobiologically active components becomes unsettled, causing emotional turmoil. Nearly one in ten individuals suffer from winter blues.
Transition to Longer Days
As the days lengthen and the new year begins, serotonin production increases with light exposure, gradually revitalizing our drive and motivation. However, it can take up to seven weeks for our inner equilibrium to be restored and for our emotions to become more easily regulated. During this period, some people may experience headaches, circulatory problems, and a lack of energy. Spring fatigue will eventually dissipate once inner harmony is reestablished.
Additional Challenges
Restoring inner balance and combating a lack of energy can be further complicated by the increase in pollen in the air. The warming air also dilates blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and contributing to fatigue. These seasonal fluctuations have historically been crucial for human survival, as shorter days prompted the body to conserve resources through increased sleep and weight gain. However, our bodies have not yet fully adapted to the demands of the modern Western world, where year-round activity and constant abundance are the norms.
Taking Action
You do not need to passively wait for your neuropsychological system to reorganize itself. You can take proactive steps to help it:
Tips for Managing Spring Fatigue
1. Daily Oatmeal: Let two tablespoons of oats simmer briefly in oat or almond milk. Add half a handful of dark berries and any fresh fruit, and enjoy the warm porridge.
2. Walnuts: Consume a handful of walnuts daily to promote vascular and brain health.
3. Raw Green Foods: Incorporate raw green foods like lettuce, Napa cabbage, and arugula into your daily diet, either in salads or smoothies.
4. Avoid Processed Foods: Avoid industrially processed products, white flour products, and sugar in any form (white, brown, cane sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar, coconut sugar, etc.).
5. Support with 4ME: Consider the 7-week rebuilding program from 4ME, which provides critical nutrients to help restore hormonal balance during the transition to warmer seasons. 4ME offers the body building, repairing, and structural materials needed to address deficiencies and maintain health.
By taking these steps, you can support your body and mind in transitioning smoothly into the warmer season, reducing the impact of winter blues and spring fatigue.