Ladies and gentlemen, spring is finally here with all of it’s warm, glorious beauty!
Don’t get me wrong, winter is very astounding in it’s own way with all of the snow. But at the same time, the colder season tends to kick really hard with some unpleasant sensations of gloominess.
Maybe for you it isn’t winter that causes feelings of despair. But if not winter, is there another season or part of nature that draws forth these unwanted feelings within you? Maybe a rainy day, gray skies, or heck maybe even a sunny day?
I think the weather and outdoor atmosphere have a tremendous impact on our mental health, in ways that may operate quite subtly. But are nonetheless still there quite powerfully. When I was younger, people would say that the rain or other outdoor conditions would create a sense of sadness.
This was something I didn’t really understand in my younger teenage and elementary school years. But something shifted in late high school/early college, and I too noticed that the weather and various seasons would depress me.
I’m pretty much at a point now where I prefer it to be sunny and warm, or night time with a clear sky. If it is going to rain, it’s better during twilight hours. If everything gets cold, it’s much more bearable if it doesn’t drop below 30 degrees. And I don’t quite know what it is, but there’s just something empty about a gray sky.
According to Mayo Clinic, some causes for seasonal depression during the winter include:
- Changes to your biological clock due to a lack of sunlight.
- A drop in serotonin levels due to a lack of sunlight.
- Disruption of melatonin levels effecting quality of sleep.
On the bright side, there are some actions that can be taken to help with seasonal depression. Some suggestions by Everyday Health being that we:
- Stay socially engaged with others and avoid constant isolation.
- Stay active through exercise either indoors or outdoors.
- Journal to identify and process depressive thoughts and feelings.
- Creating and remaining consistent with a sleep schedule.
Another personal tip of mine would be to pray and spend time in the word with God. I just find that doing this really helps center me, and realign my thoughts and heart towards the peace that comes with Jesus.
These tips may have been more helpful going into the winter season rather than coming out of it. But I still figured it would be beneficial share what I found while researching.
While some individuals may still find seasonal depression occurring in the spring and summer months, it’s nice that we are now exiting the cold season where it seems to strike at it’s highest.
As I read through the information presented, it seems like the sun itself plays a vital role in how we feel mentally. If you do continue to experience depression, I recommend getting outside and being active. Especially now that it’s warmer.
This is just one step we can take out of many. But it’s definitely an effective one.
Even if it’s another form of depression unrelated to the seasons/weather, getting outdoors or in nature can make a difference in how we feel. Research also indicates that walking can greatly improve our mental process also. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an intense or long walk, just something to do outside and get moving.
Admittedly I’m a bit biased as I’m more of a spring/summer made guy. Growing up in South Carolina gave me an affinity towards warmer weather I think. And I’ve never really been a big fan of the colder winter months. Especially when it’s dropping to single digits. But I really do believe there’s something restorative taking place when we transition into spring.
As much as I disliked my mom telling me to play outside when I was younger, I’m very grateful now for the beautiful outdoors and the warm season we currently have. So my encouragement to you all is to get out and enjoy this time of year. Everyone has different tastes and preferences. So it’s good to find outdoor activities that you personally enjoy. You don’t even have to be outside for a ridiculous amount of time each day. Just spending some goes a long way.
I hope this post was helpful, and I thank you all for reading. I hope you have a blessed day and I’ll catch ya later.
References:
Reflection to Insight 
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