When temperatures drop and the days get shorter, many feel this famous blow of slack which accompanies each start of winter. A diffuse weariness, a more difficult awakening, a motivation that fades with the light of day. Seasonal fatigue is not inevitable, but it affects a large part of the population.
Understanding where it comes from already allows us to regain control before it takes a lasting hold. The first person responsible is obviously lack of light. With days that darken from the end of the afternoon and a capricious sun, our body loses its bearings. Light regulates our internal clock, the famous circadian clock.
You will finally regain your summer energy
When it goes wrong, the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls sleep, becomes chaotic. Result: we struggle to get up, energy stagnates and mood oscillates. Many describe feeling foggy or irritable during this time. Added to this are the habits that winter brings with it, despite us. Comforting meals take the place of light meals, pampering evenings replace outings, and physical activity is often put on hold.
Small excesses which, when accumulated, tire the body:
excess sugar, fatty meals, a little too much alcohol, too short nights… Our body works harder to compensate, which accentuates the feeling of heaviness. For some people, especially women and athletes, fatigue can also hide an iron deficiency. This essential mineral participates in the transport of oxygen to tissues.
Winter depression, an evil that must be fought
When it runs out, the body slows down. In women over 50, this feeling may be intensified by hormonal fluctuations linked to menopause. Hence the importance, in the event of persistent fatigue, of checking your levels. Finally, the psychological factor plays a major role. Returning to work after a period of rest, reorganizing your daily life after the holidays or juggling more demanding professional obligations can generate stress.
This stress, combined with a lack of exercise and an accumulation of toxins, exhausts the body. The body recovers less well, sleep becomes more restless, and fatigue increases. But there is a simple, natural and extremely effective solution: expose yourself to light daily, ideally first thing in the morning. Whether it is natural light from going out for a 20-minute walk or a light therapy lamp, this light supply fails
the internal clockboosts energy and stabilizes mood. Experts are clear: it is one of the most powerful actions to get through winter without sinking into gloom.