We’re well and truly into the SAD time of year. But while Seasonal Affective Disorder may be accepted more than it used to be, there’s still uncertainty about how to deal with it.
Tiredness and depression during the winter can come from not getting enough, or the right kind of, sleep. We need the hormone melatonin to get us to sleep. But melatonin is only created in conditions of almost zero illumination. So if you get up in the middle of the night for a pee and turn on the loo light – then bang goes your melatonin production. Even sleeping with a night-light can be enough to stop it. So: number one – turn all your lights off and learn to pee in the dark.
If course, it would be too simple to say Work when its Light and Sleep when its Dark, but that’s just about it. Talk to your boss.
Winter is also notorious for the low levels of natural light during the day, as we stumble through the gloom of grey dismal days. Give yourself a boost with one of those therapeutic light-boxes, and spend as much time outside as you can. It’s important that we take in as much light as we can, so gather ye light beams where ye may.
I suppose I have to put in the common-sense rider at this point that, if you feel that something’s not right – speak to a medical professional. Cos it might be something else doing the dirty on you.
Thanks to John from www.jb-ld.co.uk
