Daylight Savings Time and Beating the Winter Blues

by Leah Leynor, Reach Therapist Intern

Spring is almost here! Recently, we all turned our clocks forward by an hour and lost an hour of sleep for Daylight Savings Time (DST). Losing an hour of sleep is most definitely not an enjoyable event, however, DST signals that the gray, dreary, chilly, and snowy winter is just about over! With spring on the horizon, now is a great time to emerge from hibernation and welcome a new season. For some, this may feel like and easy and welcome change and for others, the change in season may feel difficult if not impossible. When someone feels depressed, unmotivated, irritable, and lacking in energy, he / she is feeling the winter blues. Other symptoms could include the following: overeating/weight gain, lack of focus or concentration, withdrawal from social activities, and a decreased desire for sex.

Many individuals will magically beat the winter blues the instant that spring officially arrives, yet for some even spring is not enough to jolt them from the seasonal doldrums. If the winter blues has you down and you are hoping to beat the blues, there are a few ways to do it. First and foremost, get enough sleep! It may be getting lighter outside, but being well rested and keeping a schedule may help alleviate feelings of irritability and grogginess. Second, exercise! It might seem grueling to exercise when you feel a lack of motivation, however, science tells us that exercise releases endorphins and that helps create a better mood. Next, you might consider some spring cleaning. It is possible that feeling organized and reducing the clutter helps improve your mood. Also, try to get back into the social scene. Even though it is tempting to avoid your friends and family, attempting to get yourself back into your favorite social activities may help brighten your outlook. Finally, if it does not feel as though you welcome spring and are still stuck in the winter blues, you may also seek counseling. Counseling may help you work through your symptoms as well as manage the stress that suffering from the winter blues brings.

If you are feeling stuck with the winter blues, we at Pfeiffer Institute Reach are happy to help you work through feelings of depression as well as assist in formulating a beneficial stress management plan to get you back on track! Contact Pfeiffer Institute Reach today at 919-941-2900.  We look forward to working with you!