Take a moment and think of late August and early September. What do you see? Hear? Feel? For me, it’s fresh school supplies, crowded hallways, and that familiar knot of anxiety in my stomach. I remember the pressure to perform – to be smart, funny, athletic, hardworking – a cycle that carried me from childhood well into my twenties. I grieved the ease of summer and dreaded the darker, colder months ahead.

Looking back, I see it wasn’t just the start of a school year that stirred these feelings – it was the seasons themselves. Each shift in light, weather, and rhythm of life brought changes in mood, energy, and mental state. The seasons aren’t just an ✨ aesthetic ✨ backdrop… They shape the way we feel and how we move through the world. Becoming aware of these patterns is the first step toward coping with them and meeting each season with a little more self-compassion.

The Subtle (and Not-So-Subtle) Ways Seasons Affect Us

Physical Changes:

• Less daylight in winter = less vitamin D, more melatonin 💤😴: Our light-sensitive sleep hormone is released earlier and for longer, making us drowsy in the evening and groggy on dark mornings.  Less sunlight in colder months can lower vitamin D, which may leave our immune system and mood more sluggish.

• Less daylight = carb cravings 🍞🍫: Shorter, darker days lower serotonin, our “feel-good” brain chemical. To compensate, the body craves carbs for a quick mood and energy lift. This can lead to feeling more tired, irritable, and… craving more.

Emotional Changes:

• Seasonal blues ❄️: About 5% of adults experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), most often in winter, with symptoms like low, depressed mood, low energy, and withdrawing from others.
• Stress cycles 😵‍💫: Fall often carries that “back-to-school” pressure, while winter piles on holiday expectations that can be taxing and anxiety-inducing.
• Nostalgia & memory 🍂: Seasons have a way of bringing up old memories. A certain smell, a shift in the air, or a holiday can stir up feelings ranging from joyous to overwhelmed to the wistful ache for times that have passed. 
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Behavior Patterns:

• Social shifts 👫: In the summer, longer days and warm weather naturally pull us outside – barbecues, walks, vacations, more time with loved ones. Winter, on the other hand, often has us turning inward, which can sometimes feel cozy and restful, but can also slip into loneliness.
• Motivation swings 📅: Many of us feel a burst of energy and drive in the spring as the light returns, while late fall and winter can feel more arduous. Even research shows productivity tends to dip during those darker months.
• Movement & routines 🏃‍♀️: It’s easier to stay active when the sun is shining and the weather feels inviting. Colder months make hibernating tempting – and less movement can impact mood more than we realize.

The “Inner Weather Forecast”:

• Start with awareness 👀: It begins by simply paying attention – noticing how the shift in seasons stirs changes in your mood, energy, or stress levels. Being mindful of these patterns (without needing to log or track them) helps you recognize what’s happening instead of feeling blindsided. Naming these shifts – “I feel heavier because the days are shorter” – can take away some of their intensity and remind you it’s not “just you,” it’s part of the season.
• Forecast mindset 🌦️: Just like we check the weather before stepping outside, we can check our “inner weather.” Knowing fall and winter tend to feel stormy makes it easier to prepare – whether that’s more light in your mornings, cozy grounding routines, or a little extra grace with yourself.

   

Fall/Winter Coping Tips:

• Light therapy or morning sun 🌞
• Cozy routines like journaling, reading, or stretching 🧘‍♀️
• Gentle daily movement 🚶‍♀️
• Stay connected (coffee dates, calls, group activities) ☕👭
• Give yourself permission to slow down 🛋️

Taking care of yourself never goes out of season 🌿✨💛