2 days Ago By Kevin Shelley
Autumn and winter often leave us feeling a little sad. Some sadness is related to the cold and the relative seclusion of the season, but a surprising—and increasing—number of people who feel more than a little down may have seasonal affective disorder (SAD). People can have either winter-pattern SAD or summer-pattern SAD, though the winter pattern is much more common.
Winter-pattern SAD is often triggered by the shorter days of winter. For many people, it can lead to general feelings of being “down,” but it can be quite debilitating for others. Clinically, it can be a problem.
We often see individuals who are already depressed by whatever has happened or is happening to them, and SAD adds another layer of depressive behavior that can be difficult to address. The symptoms of SAD closely relate to those of depression and can be persistent, lasting up to four to five months each year. I’ve often been surprised by how long they last and how debilitating they can be, especially for more severe cases.
Autumn and winter are beautiful times of the year for many people—myself included—but for others, they are times of sadness and mourning. The following exercises can help minimize the effects of SAD and keep you feeling your best during the colder, darker months. 1.
Walking One of the best cures for feeling cooped up in the winter is to get outside for a while, and there’s no better—or easier—way to do it than to bundle up and go for a walk. 2. Jog/Run in Place Feel free to modify your sets and repetitions depending on how your body responds.
If you can’t do much at first, don’t worry: You'll progress as time passes. 3. Burpees 4.
Stepping Planks 5. Jumping Jack/Stepping Jack Modification: Stepping Jack These exercises can collectively help you stave off SAD in the winter. I suggest you do them with others, as being in a group environment may help reduce the effects of cold weather and reduced daylight.
It also provides accountability partners to help you stay on track with your exercise regimen..
