Have you been feeling down lately? Gloomy and dull like the weather? Well, you aren’t alone. Winter season can bring some gloom with it, and it is completely normal. Seasonal sadness happens due to various reasons. The transition from summer to winter isn’t easy. Here are a few reasons why seasonal sadness may happen:
1. Less sunlight affects your mood: During winters, days are shorter which means you get less exposure to sunlight. Sunlight helps regulate a mood boosting hormone called serotonin and also helps with your circadian rhythm. Hence, low exposure to sunlight can lead to feelings of gloom or tiredness.
2. Colder weather encourages isolation: When it’s chilly and it gets dark early, we tend to go out less and also come back home early. This reduction in social interaction can lead to feelings of loneliness.
3. A sense of change and endings: The fading oof summer brightness and the transition into chilly weather can stir unexpected emotions. The year also comes to end not long after winter sets in. This feeling of change can lead to sadness too.
Many people experience a wave of heavier emotions during seasonal changes. You might notice a persistent low mood, feeling more tired than usual, struggling to focus, or feeling unexpectedly lonely. Even cravings for warm, comforting foods tend to show up more often. All of this is normal — your mind and body are responding to shifting light, routines, and weather.
Ways to Cope with Seasonal Sadness
1. Welcome the sunlight
Make sunlight a small daily goal. Open your curtains as soon as you wake up, take a brief morning walk, or simply sit beside a sunny window. Even a few minutes can noticeably lift your spirits.
2. Build gentle daily rituals
Simple routines can give you a sense of grounding. Try journaling in the morning, savouring a hot cup of tea, lighting a candle in the evening, or reading a few pages of a book. These small acts create pockets of calm when life feels unsettled.
3. Move your body
Exercise doesn’t have to be intense. A slow walk, stretching, yoga, or a short workout at home can help your body release tension and boost your energy.
4. Reach out and connect
Talking to a friend or family member — even for a few minutes — can make you feel understood and less alone. Human connection is one of the strongest antidotes to seasonal sadness.
Feeling down during winter or seasonal transitions is completely normal. Be gentle with yourself. With small, intentional steps, you can support your emotional well-being and move through this period with more ease and warmth.