#34 Seasonal changes
So Autumn officially starts in September and apparently it was the warmest on record globally. We have been spoilt with surprisingly good weather this year which could not have come at a better time given what else we have had to deal with. One sign of the change in season that I am not happy about is that my beloved hedgehogs that have given me so much pleasure visiting the garden every night have now gone – presumably to their cosy hibernation (more on that later).
Our seasons do seem to be become more blurred and weather is no longer as predictable as it once was. However, adjusting to each season can have an impact on our bodies and our minds.
SAD or Seasonal affective disorder, is quite common and can cause cause insomnia, irritability, fatigue and even depression. The main reason for this is that the days become shorter and it gets colder and wetter. The reduction of the number of hours of daylight can really affect our mood because we don’t get as much vitamin D stimulated from UV rays.
Our immune system is also tested at this time of year with the changes in temperature so colds and flus become more common. Even if these are mild, they can make us feel sluggish.
So what can we do to lessen the impact of the season change?
Get outdoors as much as we can
Autumn is actually my favourite season because nature is at its most beautiful. I much prefer walks or runs during this season (the photos on this blog were taken on a lovely leafy walk last Sunday) There is something very stimulating about wrapping up and facing the elements. There is a tendency for us to avoid going outside but it’s better for us to stock up on as much daylight as possible because our body can produce melanin at night to improve our quality of sleep
Nourish yourself with healthy food
It can be tempting to comfort ourselves more with stodgy food during the colder seasons (particularly as our clothes are more forgiving than summer skimpiness!). There are so many amazing seasonal foods at this time of year like gourds and root vegetables that are perfect for making soups or curries. I quite like this site that shows you what foods are in season http://www.eattheseasons.co.uk/october.php
Don’t have central heating too high
This one is difficult for me as I really feel the cold and would have the heating on all year round if it was up to me! However, I definitely notice how dehydrating it can be for my skin and hair. So sometimes it is better to just ‘put a bloody jumper on’ (which I hear a lot).
Drink lots of water
This one applies every day but should be increased during Autumn and Winter. As I mentioned in my previous blog dedicated to water, drinking plenty of water has many benefits and is vital for many internal processes including:
Regulating body temperature (important as colder temperatures outside can lead to the body losing heat faster than it can produce it
Helps circulation (we tend to stay inside more when it gets colder)
Keeps our skin hydrated and brighter
Make like a hedgehog
So humans don’t hibernate and fascinatingly, there are a few interesting reasons for this:
Most animals that hibernate are quite small so they reach a point where they can’t eat enough food to sustain their body temperature
Humans have only migrated to sub-arctic latitudes in the last hundred thousand years or so which is not enough time to adapt our metabolism to hibernate
We discovered fire, shelter, hunting and agriculture all of which helped us to survive the cold
When the evenings get darker, it’s the best time to light candles, get under a blanket and get all cosy. Snuggle down and try to see it as a benefit that we can’t really get out much to socialise (can stay in pyjamas) Fingers crossed when it comes to Spring we can all emerge like fresh green shoots!
Goodnight Hedge and Hoggy. See you next year hopefully!
