Today I found myself looking back at photographs from what feels like a very distant summer.

Long, warm days… lots of sunshine, sitting outside without thinking about grabbing a jumper and even the evenings seemed to go on forever.

And now?

I’m looking out of the window, watching the daylight disappear earlier each evening and thinking about the colder, darker months ahead. 

And honestly? I’m not sure I’m quite ready to say goodbye to summer just yet! 😔

But it got me thinking about something else.

Have you ever noticed how a change in the weather can change the way you feel, without you really understanding why?

Perhaps you’re finding it harder to get out of bed. You’re feeling a little more tired than usual, less motivated, or even a bit grumpy for no obvious reason.

You might find yourself wanting to stay indoors, putting things off or reaching for comfort food more often.

And before you know it, you’re giving yourself a hard time for not getting as much done as you did a few months ago.

But here’s something worth remembering.

Your surroundings change with the seasons. And sometimes, so do you.

As daylight hours become shorter, changes in light exposure can affect the body’s internal clock, sleep patterns and mood. For some people, the impact is barely noticeable. For others, it can be quite significant.

So rather than waiting until you’re feeling completely fed up with winter, perhaps now is a good time to notice what’s happening.

Here are five little things worth trying.

1. Get outside, even when the sunshine doesn’t show up.

Natural daylight helps regulate your body clock, so try getting outside during the morning or lunchtime. Even a short walk can give you a change of scenery and an opportunity to move.

2. Notice the stories you’re telling yourself.

“I’m always miserable in winter.” “I never have any energy when it’s dark.” Sound familiar?

When we repeatedly tell ourselves something, we can start expecting it to happen. Instead, try asking, “What could make today feel a little better?”

3. Give yourself something to look forward to.

Summer seems to come with plans built in. Holidays, barbecues, days out. Winter can feel like one long stretch of work, dinner and bed.

So put something in the diary. It doesn’t have to cost anything, sometimes a coffee with a friend or a walk somewhere different is enough to give the week a little lift.

4. Keep an eye on your sleep.

Those darker mornings can make getting up harder, while evenings spent scrolling or watching television can push bedtime later than planned.

Try keeping a regular sleep routine, getting some daylight early in the day and giving yourself a little time away from screens before bed.

5. Stop expecting yourself to feel exactly the same every day.

Some days you’ll have loads of energy. Others, not so much.

Instead of immediately criticising yourself, get curious. Are you tired? Have you been indoors all day? Are you missing connection with other people?

Sometimes understanding what’s going on is far more useful than telling yourself to pull your socks up.

And one final thought.

We spend so much time wishing things were different. Wishing summer would last longer, wishing the mornings weren’t so dark, wishing we had more energy.

But perhaps there’s something to be said for finding little things to enjoy in the season we’re actually in.

A crisp morning… maybe the colours of the trees, or just coming home to somewhere warm after being out in the cold.

We obviously can’t change the seasons, but we can change some of the ways we respond to them.

And if you notice that your low mood is becoming persistent, you’re losing interest in things you normally enjoy or everyday life is becoming difficult, please don’t dismiss it as simply the winter blues. It’s certainly worth having a conversation with your GP.

And as I sit here reminiscing perhaps the biggest thing I’ve been reminded of today is that we can’t hold on to summer forever, however much we’d like to!

Whilst we can’t control the weather or how quickly the seasons change, we can pay a little more attention to how those changes affect us.

So as the darker days draw in, be curious about how you’re feeling. Notice what lifts your mood, what drains your energy and what helps you feel more like yourself.

And remember, just because the days are getting darker doesn’t mean everything else has to feel that way too.

Sometimes it’s the smallest changes we make that have the biggest impact on how we feel.

If you know of anyone this email might help then please do feel free to share this with them.

Until next time, ❤️

Shirley x