Springtime Lethargy

“I am so tired…”

I have heard this from nearly every patient this week in my clinic.  Everyone is tired, run down, burned out, cold, not sleeping enough.   How did Spring devolve into the Season for Despondency? 

Check your search engine for “Why is everyone tired all the time” and be overwhelmed by the queries and the supposed answers.  We are working too hard.  We are getting older.  We are sleeping less.  And if we are sleeping, we are doing it wrong, with too much light, heat, noise… 

To be honest, I have to remind my self that this is often just a seasonal adjustment.  As we go from one season into the next, with changes to light and temperature, we adjust, re-adjust, (over and over again – it is Victoria!), and this affects our internal themostat and ability to sleep deeply.  There is a genuine condition called “Springtime Lethargy”.  Part of this may be related to hayfever and allergy season, but there are also hormonal issues.  Increased levels of sunlight in spring activates the production of the mood-boosting hormone serotonin, in the early part of the day, coinciding with melatonin (the hormone responsible for sleep) being still highly active. The overlap of these two hormones overworks the body, causing fatigue.

So there you go.  It’s all hormones.  

How to support fatigue and feel better:

• Go to bed at the same time every night, and allow more time to unwind. If you are aiming for 7 hours of sleep, allow 8 hours of time in bed.  Rest and unwinding time is important.  
• Get outside every day.  Try to get out first thing in the morning.  That early morning sunshine is essential for re-setting our circadian rhythm and allowing our brains to relax.
• Make sure you are eating and drinking well.  Drink enough water.  Include some good quality electrolytes (see me for good versions of these) to rehydrate properly, and eat fresh local produce as much as possible.  
• Ensure you are getting sufficient B vitamins and magnesium, which can affect energy levels.  Please see me in clinic for a top quality version of these vitamins suited to your needs. 
• If your fatigue is lasting more than a month, please get it checked out:  ask for blood tests for iron level, thyroid panel, and markers of inflammation.  It is important to rule out underlying reasons for fatigue which is lasting. 

The days will get longer, the weather will stabilise and get warmer, and our lethargy will cease. In the meantime, take a break, stay inside and read a book when it’s cold outside, and rest. Accept that seasons are a part of our makeup, and that adjustment takes energy.

And don’t even think about a spring clean, until you are feeling more energetic!

EA.

19/9/24