We’re already in the second month of 2023, and the high of the holidays has completely worn off. We’re left with the cold winter months, and for us here in Toronto, we went about 22 days without seeing the sun.
Our Work/Life Balance meeting last month touched on the Winter Blues or more formally known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD – aptly named, am I right?). The dark, cold mornings, gray skies, and shorter days induce the dreaded Winter Blues.
Why is it important to identify this, especially at work? If your mind is not right, your focus is thrown off and thus, your productivity and motivation is impacted. When your mental health isn’t at it’s best, your energy levels and concentration are low, making it difficult to perform at your best. One of the biggest keys to success is to prioritize your health.
Combatting the Winter Blues can be challenging, especially with the shorter days. Some ways to help combat SAD is by exercising, trying to maintain a healthy diet, and even simply talking about it with someone.
“Seeing the light” will also help boost your mood. I invested in a little light box for those dark days, especially considering there have been so many lately. On my lunch breaks, weather permitting, I will go for a walk and find that that refreshes my mental space to tackle the rest of the day.
Making your physical and mental health a priority will help you beat the Winter Blues.
On the darkest day of the year, our amazing Law Clerk Leah Dickie said, “from here, every day gets brighter and brighter.”
So, here’s to looking forward to more sunshine and beating the Winter Blues!
Meriam Noori, LLB