Ode to Sunshine
S.A.D vanisher
Negativity banisher
Energy creator and motivation shaker
Reinvigorates smiles and unused miles
Of muscles that wake as you shine
The slate is wiped clean
As faces beam at rays that rain down from the
Blue, cloudless sky, bringing twinkles to eyes
As collectively spirits are raised!
Miss Way
A Way to Southern Portugal!
We are writing this article while in Southern Portugal with family. What a difference the sun makes!
The weather is colder here than usual for this time of year, but it’s still high teens and mostly sunny!
It has even been unseasonably warm in the UK recently. We have had a great few weeks of weather and it makes a huge difference to our moods!!
We notice this in other people too. When the weather improves, you really notice people’s moods adjust to match. They are out and about more and generally more friendly and talkative.
This is a huge factor in our lives. At times it can feel like we’re just surviving the winter. Having both journeys to and from work in darkness during the winter months can make even the healthiest of commutes feel like a drag. The days feel significantly shorter and energy levels dip.
Once the nice weather starts, it’s like a literal cloud lifting and life restarting. Unfortunately, living in the UK, the winter can often last much longer than we would like!!
S.A.D.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) is a mood disorder where your mood is affected by the seasons. Symptoms similar to depression and low mood are most prevalent in the winter months.
Circadian Rhythm
S.A.D. is thought to be significantly affected by what is called your ‘circadian rhythm’. This is your ‘internal clock’, telling your body when to feel tired or awake.
This video by Tom Merrick gives a great overview of the importance of circadian rhythm. He also gives some great ideas for improving sleep here.
Light exposure really affects circadian rhythm which is why S.A.D. is most common in the winter months. Your body produces melatonin and serotonin based on exposure to light. If you aren’t producing the correct levels of these hormones, they can leave you feeling more tired and depressed respectively.
Conversely, if you find yourself exposed to high levels of light late into the evening, it can fool your body into thinking it’s daytime and you’ll struggle to get to sleep. This is really important in the modern society, with vast numbers of screens and lights designed to keep our attention, well into the evening!
Daylight Alarm
To counteract S.A.D., people can use light box therapy and daylight alarms. We have recently been given one of these alarms and it has really helped our sleep patterns. One thing it has really improved is our wind down time in the evening. It really makes a difference to your sleep if you can follow a consistent and calming bedtime routine.
We try not to look at screens for at least an hour before sleep. Our daylight alarm helps by gradually reducing the light in our bedroom within the last half hour before bed.
Similarly to night time, we use our daylight alarm to gradually wake us on a morning. It slowly increases light levels for half an hour before our actual ‘wake up time’. This has lessened the ‘shock’ of a sudden alarm, especially when it’s dark!
While we love to complain about the winter in the UK, we actually have it relatively easy. Some countries get no daylight in the winter and/or no darkness in the summer! Whatever degree your seasons differ by, it’s important to identify whether you’re affected by this and adjust accordingly.
Reason to move abroad?
Over the last few years, we have been seriously considering moving abroad. One of the main drivers behind this is the weather in the UK. We’re tired of just ‘surviving’ the winter in the hope of a few weeks of summer sunshine. If we moved to somewhere with more consistent, year-round sunshine would our mental health see a dramatic improvement?
What are your experiences with sunshine? Are you affected in the same way as us? We would love to hear your thoughts, especially if you have moved abroad in search of a sunny lifestyle!
I love France and have always had a longing to move there, in great part due to the weather. As you say, the sunshine makes a great difference to your mood. I love going outside in the morning and seeing the sun and feeling the heat. Breakfast in the sunshine is one of my favourite things. I also have a sunrise/sunset lamp. I have found it really help in getting up in the morning – as you say no sudden bright lights, just a gradual increase in light which wakes you up. Makes mornings much easier to manage in the winter. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who struggles with mornings. I think a benefit of having achieved FIRE would be that you could make the most of the sunny days that we do have in this country. Sadly, sometimes it is bright sunshine all week, when I am indoors in front of a computer and then raining on the weekend. We are fans of gardening and bought our house due to the size of the garden. We have recently installed a summerhouse and used it for the first time this weekend. Although it was cold outside we could have a cup of tea in the summerhouse, which has floor to ceiling windows at the front and feel as though we were outside, enjoying the birdsong and looking at the garden. Sometimes I think it is important to try to make the most of what you have rather than longing for what you don’t.
We haven’t explored much of France but definitely plan to. Any particular recommendations to visit? Agree about breakfast in the sun, always a positive start to the day!
Great to hear you had good results from a daylight alarm too. It has really improved our sleep.
It does often feel like the rain is all saved up for the weekend – as you say, another benefit of FIRE! Your summerhouse sounds great. Our current garden is about 3mx3m so not really an option for us, but definitely appeals for the future! Hopefully we get a nice summer so you can fully enjoy your garden.
I love the Dordogne, beautiful countryside and historic towns and villages. It is also far enough south to almost guarantee good weather. Last year we went to Brittany and for me there wasn’t enough sunshine. Our favourite way to explore is on our bicycles as they don’t have the extensive network of footpaths that we do. A baguette, a bit of cheese, tomatoes and some fruit and go off and explore.