Changing Habits With Changing Seasons
By: Olivia McIntosh
Understanding the affects that each season has on our bodies and minds provides information that can be used in preparing for what to expect during each transition. As humans, there are different biological functions that are needed and provided by each season.
It's no coincidence that every stranger's smile that you pass by is a little bit bigger in the summertime. The long hours of sunshine increases Vitamin D in the body, boosts serotonin levels and mediates biological rhythms, allowing the body to feel rejuvenated after a long winter lacking the sun.
Transitioning from winter into spring and summer calls for lots of personal refreshing, outside time, and adding more sunscreen into your skincare regimen. Starting the sunny months with a clean slate by clearing out your space and deep cleaning can be highly beneficial to your seasonal renewing.
Eating Habits
Sunlight and high temperatures change our eating habits to a lighter intake of food. Eating heavier meals in the summer is not as enjoyable because of the heat and sweat that our bodies are producing, it makes the body feel lethargic rather than recharged. During the winter, our bodies increase our insulin production and store fat in our livers to keep our bodies warm in the cold. This results in our metabolisms slowing down as discussed by Premier Medical Group. Establishing an exercise routine can make a huge difference when it comes to healthy weight maintenance during all months, but especially in the winter.
Additionally, being aware of which fruits and vegetables are in harvest during each season will enable your body to take in a wide variety of nutrients from the earth that are rich at that time of year. Each season’s harvest varies and is dependent on your geographical location.
Your Mood
The sunlight deficiency that begins in autumn affects the immunity system, creating prolonged feelings of fatigue and illness into the winter. This fatigue makes it difficult for our mind and body to be motivated to keep our healthy habits. Finding a form of exercise that does not feel like a chore will help with keeping the body and mind in check during the colder months, along with taking advantage of any amount of sunlight that presents itself to you. When the environment around us changes, so do we. Our instincts as a living species are wired to do so naturally.
