Winter blues and COVID19
Do you remember the panic buying of toilet rolls in supermarkets, bulk buying sanitiser products and stocking up for the lockdowns? It has now been months of staring at the same 4 walls, and restricted outings for essentials only, and it is nearly the end of 2020. We are still in our homes – quarantined because of the 2019 Coronavirus pandemic. The days are getting darker and shorter. Are you one of those people who suffer the darker days, longer nights and colder weather as the season changes? Winter blues are coming and we couldn’t be more prepared to cope with the challenge. Some people have been mentally unhealthy since the imposition of lockdowns affected their lives and lifestyles.
One out of three Brits are diagnosed from so-called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or “winter depression.” This disorder has made 57% of UK adults’ mood worse during winter compared to summer, and caused 40% of adults to suffer more fatigue during the winter season. Moreover, statistics have shown that last June, approximately one in five people in the UK has recently experienced depression, this is a statistic that is expected to double during the winter months.
- Less energy
- Difficult to focus
- Fatigue
- Large appetite
- Increased desire to be alone
- Increased need for sleep
- Weight gain
If you know someone who is diagnosed with SAD,don’t be afraid because there are treatments for this disorder. One of many is light therapy, where an individual sits about 2 feet away from a bright light which is about 20 times brighter than normal room lighting.
Although there are treatments for SAD, it is still a national concern; in 2017, the
UK was among the most depressed and anxious countries in the world. With this statistic, there should be a critical consideration on how mental health could affect your employees, or your business when the winter blues begin plus the negative implications of COVID-19 could make it worse.
We are encouraging readers to be cautious of their mental health and to try to divert focus away from stress, especially the negative emotions caused by the pandemic.
Get busy, stay positive, become as social (online or with friends and family) as you can be, and try to start a hobby or a job to keep yourself positive and productive. Nest. Yes, make a nest, make your office and your home a comfortable place or happiness and contentment.
