Hello reader.

I am ill. 

I am feeling sorry for myself. 

I am wrapped in a blanket, unable to speak and still in my pyjamas. 

Actually, I was going to name this blog ‘I feel like sh*t, so I wrote a blog’ but thought that wouldn’t do very well with SEO. Instead, like any British person, I will moan about the weather.

Ahem.

What is this weather?

It is September. I wasn’t expecting a heatwave (yes I was a tad) but seeing as we have had about 27 hours of sun throughout the entire season of summer, I genuinely thought like the moron I am, someone would bless us with light and warmth. Instead, we’re not even in winter, and I’ve been hit by the worst cold known to man – being a tad dramatic but roll with it – a cold I thought I had beaten yesterday, but turns out I was very wrong, the sky is all the shades of grey and I feel LOW. 

Feeling S.A.D with the winter blues

I know I’m ill, but honestly, I really do struggle when it gets to winter in the UK. There used to be times – pre taking anti depressants that is – where I actually started to fear the season, because I knew I would start finding it hard to get out of bed and that the world would feel heavy on my shoulders. It’s such an odd phenomenon to describe, but as soon as I was waking up in darkness, being soaked in rain during the day and returning home at 6pm feeling like it was midnight, I felt like I was CRAVING the sun. I started to get desperate, counting the days down until we could see some light. Having had a few new years away in hotter climates, I noticed how much better I felt mentally than in the wintry dark months.

I only later found out that seasonal depression IS a thing – aka seasonal affective disorder for all the medics out there – and in the U.K alone, around 3 people in every 100 have significant winter depression. I can feel it raise its miserable head, but for now, the anti depressants keep it at bay, and I know feeling this ill simply exacerbates the symptoms.

Why don’t you travel to beat the winter blues?

You might be asking, ‘Em, why aren’t you jumping on the next flight to Gambia and finding some sun then?’ Well, it’s a few reasons. Firstly, I actually really like my marketing job and the people I work with. That in itself is not something I’ve had to this degree, and so I don’t want to be jumping on a flight to Gambia and living in Africa right now. Secondly, I don’t actually have the funds to even travel to Gambia or right now anywhere, because I’ve been trying to be a grown up 31-year old and save for the future. Of course, this all seems to go down the toilet when I pass a Joe and the Juice and get swayed by their £95 Tunacado Panini, but I am trying. I definitely feel like when you hit your thirties, there’s a teeny tiny part of responsibility that seems to say ‘hey I’m here, just make sure you’ve got some money somewhere for your life’.

What I’m trying to do instead is look at weekends away here and there, as well as a few other things I’m contemplating. Let’s see how well I cope in first 😂

Managing seasonal depression & coping with seasonal changes

There’s some things I do to help me when I feel low during this wintry, dark, entirely useless period. Sometimes it can be hard to do so – either I feel too down or like right now, I’m ill as anything so not so keen – but even writing about it is helping so that’s great! Maybe these tips will help you too:

• Acknowledge it’s okay to feel low

A simple one. You don’t have to spend money on it, and it can help your mood when you do so. It’s okay. We can all feel our energy zapped away during the bleaker months, some of us find it slightly more intense than others. But that’s okay – you will get through to the other side.

• Buy a SAD lamp

I’ve hmmm’d and ahh’ed about whether to buy one of these. They seem quite expensive but so many people have raved about the wonderful things these lamps have done for their mental health during winter. They essentially simulate sunlight to improve your mood – otherwise known as ‘light therapy’. I have a crystal salt lamp which I have found helps me a little with relaxation but I am yet to buy a SAD lamp – if it’s helped you, let me know and I’ll add it to my work secret santa list mwaha.

• Stay connected with your friends

I know it can be a difficult one, to get up and go meet your friends in these grey, dark conditions, but it can do the world of good. A coffee, some exercise or even going to visit the Christmas lights in London when they eventually get turned on makes for a fun evening. You could also plan to travel somewhere for the weekend with someone (or alone, whatever you prefer). As we all know, Ryan Air MAY be a useless airline, but they fly insanely cheap to sunnier destinations – maybe just use the same clothes you’re wearing on the flight throughout to save on carry on luggage though, because I’m pretty sure you go through your SAVINGS on their flights.

• Indoor activities to help your mental health

Reading, writing, indoor exercise (YouTube workouts or yoga) learning a new language or even planning a vision board for your future. Netflix and chilling with a hot water bottle and warm tea – repeats of ‘Friends’ is never a bad shout, unless you hate ‘Friends’ then maybe ‘Shameless USA’? Whatever your preference, there’s plenty of things to keep your mind occupied if you don’t want to leave the house. I’ve just started a new book and hey look, I’ve written for the first time in ages. I feel physically awful but at least my brain feels satisfied. Big whoop to me today. 

• Talking therapy helps 

Yes it does. Whether that’s talking to your friends or family, a doctor or a mental health professional, speaking about how you feel is incredibly important. If you find that too overwhelming, then text SHOUT to 85258. It’s a free, confidential support service for anyone in the UK struggling to cope. 

To summarise, if you’re looking for mental health tips for seasonal changes, or simply trying to beat the winter blues when you’re unable to travel somewhere warm, the above may help but please DO contact a medical professional if you’re finding things difficult. Coping with seasonal changes when travel isn’t an option is hard work, but it IS possible. Try these out and let me know in the comments below what works for you!

Now I’m going to return to my Lemsip. Thanks for reading 🙌