Ahh, the smell of freshly brewed and crafted Pumpkin Spice Lattes, wet leaves and the crisp morning air, how beautiful. The trees change their leaves to vibrant colours, and the screams of excitement for Halloween (or despair, if you are allergic to fun) are around the corner…oh, what could ruin this bliss?
*Bang*, Autumn Fatigue just smashed in your front door. A short visit, you think? Oh no…it just popped its toothbrush in your bathroom and started redecorating your house; it is here to stay at least until its slightly less irritating friend Spring Fatigue takes its place. How lovely!
But fear not…
We have 5 tricks on how to get rid of this rather rude dude:
1. Check That You Get Enough Vitamin D
It might have something to do with your vitamin D levels if you are struggling during the colder months.
Your body makes vitamin D from sunlight, so there is no surprise that once the days get shorter, you could become deficient.
During the darker months, an adult should take around 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 supplements daily, ideally with the largest meal of the day for better absorption.
2. Get More Light During The Day
Open blinds, trim trees and bushes that block sunlight or get an SAD lamp. Sit closer to bright windows while working, and don’t skip that after lunch walk.
3. Be Social (Hermit Mode — Off)
Yes, this means getting out of your snuggly onesie (or not, we appreciate a public Pokemon onesie moment) and seeing other humans who would also rather have stayed at home. Socialising can be good for your mental health and helps ward off the blues. Keep in touch with people you care about and meet up with them regularly, even if you only stay out for a little while.
4. Go Outside Into Nature
In any kind of weather! Think about when you get back home and can snuggle up under a blanket with a hot beverage. You will appreciate the warmth more; not being comfortable at all times will help you appreciate certain things again and boost your happiness.
The natural daylight will energise you and help stimulate your circadian rhythm to produce less melatonin so that you feel more awake.
Around 1 hour is ideal, even if it’s not in one go. But any amount will help and is better than nothing, so don’t feel discouraged when you only managed to slump out of the house for 10 minutes.
5. Get In Some Daily Exercise
Research has shown that just a daily 1-hour walk in daylight can help manage the Autumn blues. But any exercise will help boost your mood, even if you do it in your onesie inside your house.
But Why Am I Tired?
During the darker months, your brain produces more of the sleep hormone melatonin.
Because you catch less sunlight at this time of year, your brain goes into a semi-hibernation mode. And as the human brain is impacted by a light-sensitive circadian rhythm, you can become more sleepy.
So establish some healthy boundaries by handing that toothbrush back to your favourite pal, Autumn Fatigue, kick it out of your hermit hole and crawl outside to play in some colourful leaves. You got this!
