Surviving Days With Less Daylight

Have you ever been hit with exhaustion as if out of nowhere? Motivation takes a nap in the backseat, and you wonder where all your spunk went. Welcome to fall and the beginning of winter. As a child I struggled with the bitter cold days, running to catch the school bus in the dark, and only having about an hour of light after returning home. As I grew older, I began to hear terms like "cabin fever" and "winter blues". I adored spending every possible moment outdoors, exploring our 160 acre property, or simply watching the animals go about their day. The transition from being a bit of a nomad, to being stuck at school for long hours, and the massive reduction in overall sunlight, I would feel the affects of the seasonal changes.

Fast forward to adulthood, and it's as if the winter blues amplified. I have since learned about a condition called 'SAD', or 'Seasonal Affective Disorder'. According to any quick google search, you will quickly learn that SAD is a type of depression or mood swings related to seasonal changes. Don't quote me on that, just look it up for yourself!! ;) Some symptoms I have noticed in my own life, have been:

1. Increased drowsiness and sluggishness.

2. Loss of interest in activities I used to enjoy.

3. Lack of motivation to tackle manageable tasks.

4. Cravings for sweets.

5. Inability to think clearly and focus.

My husband would probably add in, "overall grouchiness" as well!! Each fall, it always catches me by surprise. Suddenly my mood starts changing, and I wonder why I don't have any energy. My excitement for each day is dampened by the chilly weather, and the extra effort it takes to do simple tasks...like taking the kids to town to buy groceries. Instead of loading up and hitting the road, I have to make sure everyone has boots, jackets, gloves, and hats. The truck needs 15-3o minutes to warm up, and typically needs to have the block heater plugged in on really cold days. Then comes the struggle of unbuckling 3 little kids from their carseats, and racing into each store. Pushing a grocery cart from a store to the parking lot in -25 degrees Celsius makes for frozen fingers and cranky kids.

How do we cope? How do I not only survive the gloomy days, but try to thrive in a way so I can show up for my family? Well, I will be 100% honest with you. The month of October has been ROUGH. Like I mentioned, SAD always catches me off guard, EVERY YEAR. Since realizing what was hitting me, I am slooowwwly trying to introduce some habits that should help lessen the symptoms. Now please keep in mind that I am NOT a health expert. Simply some gal on the internet sharing her own experience. PLEASE consider speaking with health professionals if you are really struggling to cope! Lab work may reveal some irregularities, or some individuals may even need prescription medication. Don't struggle in silence. You are not alone!

A commenter on Youtube gave me a timely reminder that vitamin D plays a vital role in combatting the winter blues. Something I am adding to my daily routine is a high quality vitamin D supplement, along with a women's multivitamin. Let's start making a list, the fewer words, the better, right?

1. Vitamin D and multivitamin

2. Eat balanced and healthy meals, starting with protein at breakfast.

3. Hydrate! Aim for at least 8 cups of water per day, as well as a few cups of *electrolytes. Biosteel has been my favorite, with no added sugar! Canada https://amzn.to/4frdPSr USA https://amzn.to/3UcUv2Q

4. Get outside for 15-30 minutes per day, minimum. Even if you have to wear 100 layers of clothes.

5. Try light therapy.

Light Therapy Canada

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Light Therapy USA

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6. Avoid alcohol, this can make depression worse!

7. Put the phone down 30 minutes before night.

While this is surely not an exhaustive list, it's a small start!! Even by adding in a couple of these habits, hopefully a difference will be noticed. Currently, in northern British Columbia, we are down to about 12 hours of daylight. Whereas during the summer we have nearly 18 hours!! During our shortest days of the year, we can experience as little as 6 hours and 53 minutes of daylight. No wonder my mood begins to swing! That is a massive difference! Being educated about real changes can help our overall understanding as to why we feel so...blah....

Believe it or not, having farm animals actually has made a huge difference in how I cope with SAD. Having animals that need care every. single. day... has really helped me to get out of the house. I definitely won't claim that it's easy to feed and water animals during the coldest days of winter, but it gives me a few VITAL things.

1. Fresh air.

2. Sunlight (most times)

3. Exercise

I can't back out, I am committed to keeping my animals fed and warm. Unfortunately (yet also fortunately), I don't have to option to say, "mmm, I don't feel like it today." Rain or shine, blizzard or chinook, I HAVE to get outside to feed the horses and goats.

Okay okay, I know, I'm SO long-winded. But I must add in a few treasure pieces that help me.

1. Set milestone goals.

For myself, October-January are very challenging mentally. So planning something fun to look forward to every month can be just the little 'treat' needed to get through a few more weeks. Book a pedicure, plan a brunch, go to an event or concert. Here's how I've broken down the next few months...

November: Girl's Night Get Away, planned date night with hubby

December: Hot Stone Massage, Christmas Festivities

January: Pedicure? And, kidding season starts!

February the days start getting longer!! Mood begins to shift! Plus, I will have a ton of baby goats to take care of....

2. Break down large tasks. House cleaning overwhelms me during this time, especially as the family spends the bulk of the days indoors. Instead of trying to clean the whole house all the time, work on small pieces. Have small goals like, clean the master bathroom - write it down like this:

   -Scrub and spray toilet

   -Put items on the vanity away.

   -Wash sink and counter, wipe mirror

   -Scrub or wipe down shower/tub

   -Vacuum and mop the floor

   That's it!! Stand back and admire your handiwork, pat yourself on the back for tackling a task! When we break it down into manageable steps, sometimes it can be less overwhelming. Of course, we are each individuals, unique in strengths and personality. So please remember to take all advice and suggestions with a grain of salt. Make adjustments to find a routine that will work for you.

If you find yourself struggling through seasonal changes, my heart goes out to you. It can be exhausting playing tug-o-war with your own body, trying to convince yourself to get up and get moving. Sometimes, all you can do is start small. Set that timer for 10 minutes and tidy the living room, sit outside, march in place, sit and stretch, pray, read a book.

See ya down the road,

Amanda