As cooler temperatures set in, one thing is certain: fall is on its way. If you tend to experience seasonal affective disorder (or SAD) in the fall, you will likely feel it most in September. In this month, we experience a lot of transition in terms of daylight hours. As we grasp tightly onto summer, many people (maybe you or a friend or family member) feel the loss of summer and daylight as we transition to fall.
Here are a few tips you can do to help beat SAD:
Go for a walk before 10 a.m. every morning. Even a 5-10 minute walk around the block will do. Look at your surroundings as if seeing them for the first time. Take deep breaths as you move. Connect to the earth. Make sure you walk in the sun if it’s out to help you wake up.
Speaking of sun…
Supplement vitamin D everyday. Described as sunshine in a bottle. It is estimated a staggering three-quarters of teens and adults in the U.S. are deficient in this vitamin. Vitamin D works to boost your immune system, prevent you from getting sick, and increase your sense of well-being.
Invest in a light box. A basic one will do. Make sure it’s UV ray-free. Every morning sit about 3-4 feet away from it for about 5-10 minutes. Warning: It’s like looking at the sun so do not look directly at it. I’ve personally used a light box for three years with much success and recommend it to my patients.
Go to bed 30 minutes before you usually do. As the sun goes down earlier this month, going to bed earlier with the sun will help you feel more rested and refreshed in the morning.
Get acupuncture. Acupuncture can help you transition into fall and address SAD and sadness. SAD is at its core a grief/loss of the sun and summer. Acupuncture can help support and rebalance you naturally to help you feel your best.
Transitioning from summer to fall is not easy. There are many tips and resources available for beating SAD. This post offers only a few tips. We’d like to hear from you. What do you do to beat SAD? Please leave us your tips below to add to the list. If you know of a friend or family member who tends toward sadness or experiences SAD in the fall or winter, please share this article with them. Thanks.
Source: Vitamin D deficiency soars in the U.S., study says, Scientific American
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Palmgren Acupuncture is a full-service integrative health center which helps people reduce stress, relieve pain, and improve sleep naturally. We offer acupuncture, massage, and Chinese herbs. Learn more about Palmgren Acupuncture here.