Inner you
Daunted by the long stretch of winter ahead? The tonic is in the small moments, as Good Housekeeping’s Bella Evennett-Watts has discovered
Staring at the idyllic beach, I gaze at turquoise waves hugging the shoreline as a couple stroll hand in hand across golden sand. Unlike them, I’m not soaking up the winter sun on a far-flung island. Far from it: this tranquil scene before me is, in fact, an advert for an airline’s big winter sale.
January is often painted as the bleakest month, but for me, February has come to represent the very worst of winter. Gone are the golden, crisp leaves of autumn. The novelty of a fresh new year has also passed, and it seems like a long slog ahead until brighter days.
Every February, like clockwork, I get an insatiable craving for summer. It’s more than a desire for sunshine. I long for everything it brings with it, from lighter evenings and the smell of barbecues in back gardens to throwing on loose linen trousers and hearing laughter spilling out from cafe terraces.
Even as a teenager, I remember slathering fake tan on to my legs in the midst of winter, hoping this bottled-up version of summer might be the answer.
‘February is a dark month in the northern hemisphere and can seem to stretch on for ever,’ says Dr Lucy Maddox, consultant clinical psychologist and author of A Year To Change Your Mind. ‘The tone of this month can feel dark, too, as we often realise that we’ve abandoned many of the promises to ourselves that we made in January. It’s easy to feel stuck at this time of year.’
The Royal College of Psychiatrists estimates that around one in 30 adults in the UK experiences significant episodes of winter depression. Some studies suggest that as many as one in 50 have very severe Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which stems from reduced exposure to sunlight.
LIGHT THERAPY
‘Common symptoms of SAD include persistent low mood or depression, sleep problems, fatigue or lack of motivation, overeating, irritability and not wanting to socialise with others,’ says Barbara Sahakian, professor of clinical neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge. ‘We need the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UVR) to make vitamin D, but there may be insufficient solar UVR during October through to early March.’
While it might be tempting to batten down the hatches entirely and hibernate until spring, ironically, getting outdoors – no matter how cold – is even more important in the winter months.
‘To reduce the impact of SAD, spend time outdoors, especially when the sun is out. Be sure to keep active – exercise is good for mental wellbeing, as well as your physical health,’ Professor Sahakian explains.
If you do continue to struggle with depression from
SAD, she su
