Gray November Blues... What to Do?

We are over halfway through the month of November with all eyes toward Thanksgiving this week and the holidays in the weeks ahead. This time of year tends to gather us indoors around friends and family to celebrate together. With a lot of events, activities, and celebrations planned during this time of year, it may help alleviate the rather dark and gray weather that November and December have to offer.

Local climatology tells us November is the cloudiest month across Minnesota and Iowa. On average we will get 5 sunny days and 19 cloudy days, with the rest being a mixture of sunshine and clouds. During the late spring, summer, and early fall seasons, the sun angle is high enough in the sky to burn off many of the clouds. The higher sun angle combined with a "warmer" atmosphere often prevents the build up of significant cloud cover. However, as the atmosphere begins to 'chill out' and the jet stream (the river of air that carries storm systems across the country) plunges down to the south from Canada, more clouds form and can be seen for days on end.




Combine the cloudy days along with shortening daylight as we approach the winter solstice, you maybe feeling more 'blue' and tired. There is a good reason for this-- your body is actually having a reaction to the lack of sunlight. Melatonin, the hormone that helps the body in sleep-related processes increases with the lack of natural daylight. At the same time, serotonin, a natural brain chemical that can affect your mood, decreases as daylight decreases. The drop in serotonin along with the increase in melatonin can interfere with your mental health. The result in some people is the mood disorder called "SAD". SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder is a relatively common occurrence, especially among people in northern latitudes. Ding, ding, ding... Minnesota and Iowa are prime targets for this energy-zapping disorder.

November really is just the beginning for the blues and they can last all the way through a good portion of March. The most depressing day of the year has been 'calculated' to arrive in late January. The calculation involves a number of variables including weather, debt, monthly salary, distance from Christmas, motivation, along with a few other variables. With all of this somewhat negative news, what can be done to stop us from hitting this low point?

There are a number of ways to prevent the depression or tiredness from hitting its lowest point. Everyday activities such as eating, physical fitness, and simple laughter can help mitigate the length and severity of the winter blues. Many suggestions include plenty of fruits and vegetables, exercise for at least 20 minutes a day, and at least trying to expose some of your skin to sunlight when it is present. I, myself, try to get out and take a walk around noon-time and I've noticed this natural light does help improve my moods. Our bodies naturally crave high carbohydrate foods during the winter time, you know: the comfort foods! Potatoes, pastas, and sweets.These foods give you a temporary fix, but can lead to quick blood sugar crashes. It's better to stick with more complex carbohydrates including whole grains, fruits, and vegetables... the natural mood boosters.

The Mayo Clinic once again has an immensely helpful website when it comes to SAD. The website explains symptoms, causes, risk factors, prevention, treatments, and an assortment of other helpful links to SAD related information. If you think you might suffer from this disorder, or know someone else that may... definitely check out this website.

Good luck and maybe you should treat yourself to that winter vacation in Florida. It really is good for your health!