We’ve all been feeling the effects of our days being cut short with the recent adaptation of “fall back” for Daylight Saving. Wind drafts are knocking us all over, and almost everyone’s brought their puffer coats out of storage. My heart goes out to anyone who has a similar schedule to mine: leaving class at 4 p.m. and seeing that the sun is already halfway set is not enjoyable, especially when there is a pile of chores and laborious assignments waiting for us back at home.
Naturally, our bodies have internal reactions to these external changes. According to the University of Utah, both men and women experience serotonin reduction when sunlight dwindles. However, experts say we can boost our serotonin by engaging in physical activity and getting exposure to sunlight.
BU life hack: if it’s nice and sunny out, walking down Comm. Ave. to class satisfies both of these boosters simultaneously. Consuming more complex carbohydrates, such as fruits, vegetables, and legumes, has also been shown to support our serotonin supply.
But it’s not as simple for women. Four out of five who experience Seasonal Affective Disorder are women, and the University of Utah explains that this is related to experiencing fluctuations in estrogen. Unstable estrogen levels can drop a woman’s serotonin levels further, on top of the serotonin already lost due to the lack of exposure to sunlight during the colder months.
Therefore, we can practice the recommended protocol of eating healthily and moving our bodies regularly, but these things alone may not be sufficient. Have you ever heard of oxytocin? The “Love Hormone?”
According to Harvard Medical School, like serotonin, oxytocin is a feel-good hormone. It balances the sometimes-taxing effects of excess cortisol, a stress hormone. By contrast, oxytocin is mainly involved in nurturing and healing. In social settings, increased oxytocin is associated with behaviors like relaxation, trust, and stability. And, according to the National Library of Medicine, its evolutionary purpose is literally to facilitate childbirth as the hormone is central to the functioning of a female’s body. The nurturing essence of oxytocin means that the activities that encourage its secretions are also enjoyable, relaxing, and healing in nature.
This winter, hug as many people as possible, sing your heart out, dance like no one’s watching, become a yogi, and don’t forget to spend time with your adorable dogs, cats, or what have you. Take advantage of the holiday season as an excuse to treat yourself by treating others. According to the University of Arizona, gift giving produces feelings of giving back as oxytocin is released when we participate in selfless acts of kindness and altruism.
Notice how all of those things are pretty restorative and pleasurable?
It’s fun to make space for our routines to slow down for our bodies to heal! We are not meant to be in constant output mode all the time, and we all deserve to take a breather and indulge in doing things we love, especially in tough transitional periods like this one. This is your formal reminder to give yourself a break this winter (and every winter after) because your body will thank you.
Less go-go-go this winter and more slow-slow-slow!
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