What is an Autumn Dip?
An autumn dip is a change in your mood that occurs when the seasons change, mainly due to a lack of daylight. In fact, sunlight is essential for the production of vitamin D in your body. Less sunlight is available during the shorter, drearier days, which can lead to a drop in your vitamin D levels and energy levels. Vitamin D also plays a crucial role in strengthening your immune system.
In addition, an autumn dip is often associated with melatonin, the hormone that causes drowsiness. When it gets dark early, your body produces more melatonin, which can lead to feelings of fatigue and dejection.
What are the Symptoms of an Autumn Dip?
Not everyone experiences autumn blues the same way, but typical symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Listlessness
- Gloominess or irritability
- Dejection
- Decreased interest in social activities
- Concentration problems
- Increased appetite
Of course, everyone has a down day sometimes, but if you find that these symptoms persist for a long time, the following tips can help you feel better.
10 Tips to Dispel the Autumn Blues
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Get Outside: The lack of natural light can exacerbate autumn blues. Therefore, try to get outside regularly, even on gray autumn and winter days. A short walk during your work break or an outing on the weekend can do wonders and let you enjoy the fresh air.
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Watch Your Nutrition: Your diet has a significant impact on both your physical and mental well-being. In colder times, we tend toward heavier, hotter meals, so it's important to make sure you get enough vitamins.
Healthy eating can significantly improve your mood, and fortunately there are plenty of delicious seasonal vegetables and fruits to try. If you are deficient, you can also consider taking supplements to arm yourself against the autumn blues. -
Stay Active: Exercise, like nutrition, has a positive impact on your well-being. You don't have to exercise intensely right away; a daily 30-minute walk can make a big difference.
Not only will it benefit your mood, but you'll also get to enjoy the refreshing outdoors. If you prefer to stay indoors, consider doing yoga or fitness exercises to boost your mood.
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Start Your Day with a Routine: When it's still dark in the morning, it can be tempting to stay in bed longer. Yet it's important to have a set morning routine to start your day off right. Quiet breakfast, some exercise or even a little writing to organize your thoughts can ensure that you have more energy and focus throughout the day.
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Maintain a Fixed Sleep Pattern: With the shorter days, you may tend to sleep longer. Therefore, it is important to maintain a consistent sleep rhythm by going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time. This will help you feel more refreshed during the day.
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Plan Fun Activities: An enjoyable outing can always be a welcome distraction. The prospect of fun activities can improve your mood. It doesn't have to be an entire vacation; a visit to a museum, dinner with friends or even a short city trip can be enough to break the grind.
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Bring Color to Your Living Environment: As we stay indoors more during the colder months, you can brighten up your home with color. Flowers with bright colors can put an instant smile on your face. In addition, fun fall decorations can make your home more atmospheric. Even the process of decorating can make you feel good.
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Enjoy the Season: Every season has its own charm, whether you love summer or prefer winter. Autumn, for example, offers beautiful colorful landscapes, cozy gatherings, heartwarming meals and comfy sweaters.
By being open to the positive aspects of the season, you can get more joy out of a period you may not love as much.
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Be Kind to Yourself: Everyone has down days, and that's totally normal. In fact, it's important to rest and recharge from time to time.
Use this time to read that one book that has been on your shelf for a long time, listen to your favorite music or take care of your plants and flowers. You won't regret it.
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Seek Help: It is perfectly acceptable to ask for help. In fact, by doing so, you show concern for yourself. If you suffer from persistent fatigue or gloom, don't hesitate to talk about it with your family doctor. If necessary, he or she can refer you to a specialist.
If you prefer anonymity, you can also contact Tele-Onthaal for a confidential conversation.
