‘I want to, but I just don’t have the energy for it.’ It sounds contradictory, but for some people this is the reality at the beginning of spring. The whole world is crawling out of its hole again, but you cannot yet bring yourself to participate. Where do these startup problems come from? Is spring fatigue the next phase of winter depression, or are you just suffering from morning sickness after a long hibernation?
What is spring fatigue?
People with a spring blues experience a feeling of emptiness at the start of the new season. They feel tired and don’t feel like doing things. This can be accompanied by mood swings, concentration and sleep problems. In some cases this goes even further and people also have gloomy or even depressive thoughts.
Does this look familiar? That could be right. The symptoms of spring fatigue are somewhat similar to the dip that occurs when the days become shorter: winter depression. People who suffer from this are going through a valley because they don’t get enough daylight. Turn this around and there shouldn’t be a problem, you might think. Yet it works a little differently during the spring dip.
What causes spring fatigue?
Although the spring dip has been much less researched than the winter variant, there are a number of factors that probably play a role. For example, the symptoms of the spring blues are probably related to the after-effects of the winter blues.
For example, during the dark period we produce less vitamin D. We use sunlight for this. In the winter we of course spend a lot less time on the beach, which means our vitamin D reserves can become quite depleted. This can lead to fatigue, sadness and mood swings. Unfortunately, this is not immediately resolved when spring arrives.
This also has to do with the fact that our hormone balance is thrown into serious turmoil during the winter. Because of all the darkness, we produce less of the happiness hormone serotonin and more of the sleep hormone melatonin. Our brains link darkness to sleep. That’s why we like to stay in bed a little longer in the winter. In the spring it always takes a while for our hormones to reset.
Exhausting changes
In addition, the change itself also plays a role: the amount of daylight, the weather and activity and expectations. In April the days are a lot longer, but the temperatures still go in all directions. At the same time, there are a lot more events in the spring and there can be social pressure to go along with all the excitement. This can make you quite overstimulated and secretly long for your blanket on the couch.
How do you get rid of your spring blues?
Fortunately, there is also good news. Unlike winter depression, spring fatigue is not an official medical condition. Intensive treatment is usually not necessary. Ultimately, your body will automatically get used to all the cheerfulness of spring.
There are ways to speed up that process. You probably don’t want to hear it, but what helps best is to go outside and get some exercise. This way you get used to all the light again and your reserves are quickly replenished. In addition, don’t forget to eat healthy and take your rest moments in between.
2024-01-04 12:50:21
#Startup #problems #winter #spring #fatigue
