As the days get shorter and the temperatures colder, some people may notice they feel down or have less energy than usual. This could just be the winter blues caused by less activity, or stress or sadness related to the holidays.
Daylight, exercise, healthy eating, and spending time with family and friends may help. In some cases, it may be Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a form of depression. Symptoms of SAD include anxiety, cravings for carbohydrates, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, or irritability. People with these symptoms should talk to their doctor. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, SAD occurs much more often in women than in men, and it is more common in those living farther north (like New York or New England), where there are shorter daylight hours in the winter.
Download our Behavioral Health Wellbeing toolkit for resources your groups can share with their employees, including:
- Beating the Winter Blues
- Thriving inside this winter (video)
- Run the SMILE challenge
- Start your day being mindful
- Move for at least 30 minutes
- Indulge yourself by drinking water
- Listen for hunger signals
- End your day with a grateful heart
Additional resources include:
Behavioral Health Wellbeing toolkit (ZIP)
