Seasonal Depression | Did you know that you can experience a slump, even in the spring?

Spring is finally here and the sun fills us with energy and increases our serotonin levels - the "happiness hormone" in our body. You can see people going out and enjoying the sun with a smile. It feels like spring is waking us up again.

It has been shown that people have a more positive mindset during sunny days. Also in northern areas, it is widely known that a lack of light affects mood and energy levels. People living in Nordic countries are usually familiar with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), because the difference in light between winter and spring is large. But light is not always energizing, and some of us can feel tired caused by the increase in sunlight. There are no studies that say anything about how common spring fatigue is, but physiologically it has been shown to be a real thing.

WHY CAN SPRING BE DEPRESSING?

Due to the light, our hormonal activity can become unstable in the spring. Our melatonin levels decrease, which leads to difficulty falling asleep. Bright evenings do not make it easier at all, we simply do not sleep enough, which causes fatigue. Fatigue and exhaustion in the spring are usually not serious, but they can negatively affect our abilities and vitality anyway. Changes in hormonal activity can also cause symptoms of depression. However, it takes a few weeks for the body to adapt to the light and usually overcome the fatigue. If it does not go away on its own and you still feel down, we have put together some tips on how to alleviate the symptoms:

SLEEP IS MOST IMPORTANT

It may not be easy to maintain your sleep rhythm as the number of hours of light increases. But do your best to maintain your routine and avoid things that can negatively affect your sleep routine – these can include caffeine in the evening, phone and computer screens, and even watching TV. Take time during the day to breathe deeply, rest your mind, and reduce any stress you may be feeling.

OUTDOOR EXERCISE

Exercise, especially outdoor exercise, can help fight spring fatigue. It can be hard to find the motivation, but even a short walk outdoors can be very helpful. Being outdoors gets fresh, healthy air to your brain, and even short walks outside can reduce stress. Exercise and physical activity also increase your metabolism and release endorphins, which boost your physical and mental well-being.

Sometimes exercising late at night can be very stimulating and negatively affect your sleep, so try exercising during the day or after work. Hiking in the woods and fields can be especially good because of the calming effect nature has on the body and mind, plus it can be done in the evening.

BALANCE IN NUTRITION IN SPRING

Eating well and healthily can support your energy and vitality during seasonal changes. In the old days when fruit and vitamin C were not so available, the lack of nutrients was a major cause of fatigue in the spring. If you are feeling tired, it may be a good idea to include more fruit and vegetables in your diet. Good and healthy sources of fat, carbohydrates and protein are also essential in everyday life.

Sometimes fatigue in everyday life makes us take shortcuts and eat unhealthy foods during bad times. Too much white sugar in particular can make you tired and exhausted, because it is a short-term source of energy. So keep your sugar consumption down and switch from milk chocolate to dark chocolate, for example. Dark chocolate can help increase serotonin levels, which are usually too low during depression. Good and enough drinks are also important to keep your metabolism going.

VITAMINS FOR FATIGUE

Various B vitamins, found in our SPORTY BOOST Recovery and B12 + Blueberry, are important for our energy metabolism because they can reduce fatigue. These vitamins are especially important for people with specific diets such as vegans and vegetarians. These B vitamins also support and strengthen our immune system.

Collect B vitamins and get energized with Aarja's multivitamin recovery drink SPORTY BOOST-Recovery (temporarily out of stock) and natural Premium B12 + blueberries. You can also get vitamin B12 from our natural immune system booster Longvida Optimized CURCUMIN - a curcumin supplement containing bioavailable curcumin (from turmeric), ginger extracts and vitamin B12.

Vitamin C is known to be the vitamin that best strengthens our immune system. If you have a low daily consumption of fruits, berries and vegetables, you may want to consider whether you are getting enough vitamin C. These vitamins also reduce tiredness and fatigue, and support normal energy-yielding metabolism in the body. The absorption of iron and several other nutrients is dependent on vitamin C. Our VITAMIN C 500 is combined with zinc and Nordic chaga, which also makes it a great product to support healthy vision, skin, hair and nails.

Try Aarja Health's VITAMIN C 500 with Zinc and Nordic Chaga – this supplement provides beneficial support for your immune system all year round and also reduces tiredness and fatigue.