7 Ways To Combat Seasonal Affective Disorder During Your Workday
The days are getting shorter and shorter. And when daylight savings time goes away in a few weeks, seeing sunlight if you are working in an office, can be few and far between. This can lead to an onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. The acronym is very reflective of this condition which truly does make many of us “sad” during the winter months.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a kind of depression that occurs seasonally typically during the fall and winter months. It can have a severe negative impact on one’s mood, and energy. And while this can translate to and impact all areas of your life, it can pose challenges, especially at work. Because let’s face it, rarely does work cooperate with your mental health struggles.
This is why our friends at Aura Print put together and shared with us some advice and tips to help navigate Seasonal Affective Disorder in the workplace.
7 Expert Tips for Navigating Seasonal Affective Disorder in the Workplace
- “Sunlight Breaks”
It can be easy to spend your day without seeing sunlight during the winter months. Be sure to give yourself a few minutes to take a sunlight break. This can be a short walk outside, personally I’ll do a quick lap around the building.
- Stay Active and Keep Moving
To quote one of my favorite movies of all time Legally Blonde, “exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy”. While when feeling down it can be hard to get the energy to be active, it can make a huge difference. Try to stay as active throughout your workday as you can. Perhaps it’s that aforementioned walk, or as I do a walking pad treadmill at my desk. Another easy idea to adapt is “micro-movements” a term that refers to “short but frequent moments of activity like stretching your arms or rolling your shoulders every 30 minutes.” Even simple movements like this can help.
- Organization
Seasonal Affective Disorder can drain your motivation and energy, leading to even the simplest of work tasks feeling overwhelming. It can help to try and divide these tasks into smaller steps, tackling the most important tasks first, and using productivity tools. I know personally I add easy tasks that I was doing anyway to cross something off my to-do list. This gives me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction as well as motivation to keep going.
- Stress-Relief Techniques
Stress is almost inevitable during a workday. But there are ways to get some relief. This can be things as simple as meditation, deep breathing, or mindfulness exercises. There’s a reason people say “just breath” when someone needs to calm down. It really does work!
- Connect with your Coworkers
It can be intimidating to connect with your coworkers. But having friends to share a laugh with at work can make all the difference. Human interaction can certainly help the loneliness that is often a symptom of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
- Routine
This is something I’ve known for quite a while that I need at least in part. Some semblance of a routine. I crave the structure. And turns out this is good for your energy and mood. Sticking to this during trying times such as the winter months, can minimize the impacts the season brings.
- Look After Yourself
Prioritize yourself. If you don’t who else will? Aura Print suggests writing down three things you’re thankful for at the end of the day. The negatives can easily take over, but when you emphasize the good, you’ll appreciate it.
Thanks to our friends at Aura Print for sharing these tips with us. You can learn more here.
