The weather can play a major part in your day, including helping improve or worsen your mood. If you recognize the factors, however, you can prepare yourself to enjoy the good and deal with the bad. Here are 5 ways weather can affect your mood.
5 Ways Weather Can Affect Your Mood
Winter Blues
Whether it is the lack of daylight, or the generally overcast climate, winter tends to make a lot of people feel down. This is caused by the increased production of melatonin, which is a hormone that makes you feel tired. October through April are the months that one is most likely to experience these effects. If you are feeling blue during the winter months, consider checking your local radar weather app for a sunnier day and getting a bit more sunlight when it is available or simply put your house lights on a timer to trick your body into thinking it is waking up with the sunrise.
Beach Perfect Weather
Just as bad weather can ruin your mood, great weather can make your day. It can be beach weather, or just the perfect temperature for you to go outdoors. You will not want to take days like these for granted. You should get at least 10 minutes of direct sunlight per day (without sunscreen). Vitamin D is an important because it helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus. Your weather app can give you a heads up a few days in advance so that you can make plans to enjoy the weather.
Ruined Plans
An indirect result of abrupt weather changes, ruined plans, can quickly destroy your day. Nobody enjoys looking forward to something only for it to be cancelled. Disappointment doesn’t make anybody feel good! A quick look at your weather radar before you set out will let you know that an abrupt change is headed toward you and can help you prepare.
Traffic
Bad weather is bound to make traffic, and your mood, worse. While both traffic and the weather are a part of life, finding a good radio station, with a quick look at your weather radar, will warn you of any incoming bad weather and traffic in your location, and along your route. This will help you better prepare for delays.
Something Special
Occasionally, the weather can help give to an amazing moment. It can be a romantic kiss in the rain after a date, or snow on Christmas morning. While the surprise is part of the magic, having a heads up can help you make the moment more special for you and your loved ones.
The weather can have a variety of effects on your mood. Ultimately, however, your mood is your decision. So no matter what the seasons bring, you can still enjoy your day by bringing your own sunshine.
Image credit : Smiling girl with umbrella via Shutterstock
We have a lot of sunless days here during the winter and by January, it does start wearing you down. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a widespread condition in colder climates. I just roll with it and hope for sunnier days, but there are special “light therapy” lamps that can help those feeling it more intensely. Weather can definitely wreak havoc on travel plans. Here’s hoping everyone is able to get to their destinations this holiday season without incident. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Corinne! 🙂
Just like winter an extremely cloudy day can also pull us down…. Best thing us to grab that hot cup of tea and settle down with a good book