Quite a lot of people are struggling a little bit at the moment with the weather, the daylight hours, the grey skies and the fact that it is still January. Everything can feel a little bit flat.
There are lots of people out there who have seasonal affective disorder, where this kind of thing really impacts them, but I think all of us are somewhere on that spectrum of noticing at least a little impact.
That might be a busy January with work, coming up to the end of the tax year or financial year, or just getting back into things after Christmas. Heading into the next year can sometimes feel a bit like going “whew”.
A winter reminder about vitamin D
I want to start with a reminder that the NHS now recommends that all of us in the UK take vitamin D supplements throughout the darkest winter months of the year. That is from the beginning of October through to about the end of March.
We simply do not get enough vitamin D from daylight hours and cloudier skies at this time of year. When we are out, we are usually covered up more, so not much of our skin can absorb it. Taking vitamin D can really help with energy levels, especially if you are not already doing this.
Getting outside even when the weather is miserable
I will use an example from my morning dog walk today. It was absolutely piddling it down with rain. I had to go out because the dog always wants to go out. She loves the rain and the puddles, which is a bit of an inspiration on days like this. It was my only slot to go out, so I headed out.
Beforehand I was thinking, “Oh, for goodness sake,” but once I got out and going, it was really lovely. I was in full waterproofs and wellies and I felt so much better for having gone out. My energy levels were lifted, even though it was a grey day and it was still raining.
I stopped and watched the dog as she sniffed around. I took some photos of some beautiful snowdrops. I splashed in a few puddles. Once you get out there, your brain often builds it up to be worse than it actually is. Once you are out, it is almost always uplifting.
Ninety nine times out of a hundred, you will really appreciate having gone out. It does you good physically and mentally.
Snowdrops and signs of spring
Looping back to the snowdrops, are they not a fantastic sign that spring is just around the corner?
The daylight hours are getting longer. Temperatures will gradually, on average, start to increase. More spring flowers will be joining those snowdrops over the next few weeks.
I love springtime. I love the seasons of transition, spring and autumn, when you notice the changes. The birdsong early in the morning and at dusk at the moment is absolutely out of this world. It is just glorious.
Final encouragement
So get out there. Even if it looks miserable, there will be things for you to appreciate and enjoy. Getting out, moving and being outdoors are all incredibly beneficial for your brain and your body.
Happy running.
