I was diagnosed with SAD (seasonal affective disorder)
around 2 years ago also known as the winter blues. I really struggle once
Autumn hits but this weekend it's worse than ever! I've had a to do list I
really wanted to tackle this weekend but yesterday I pretty much slept all day.
I have zero motivation at the moment, I feel low and exhausted and it's hard,
real hard. If you know, this isn't me at all and I like to be busy and social
but right now I just want to hide under my duvet. So this is why I'm sat in
front of my computer screen, I want to tackle this head on. No medical
expert but I know what helps me and who knows it may help one of you too. I
feel if I put pen to paper or in this are print to screen, I have a plan and it
may help so here's how I'm gonna stand up to my SAD this week....
1. Fix my lumi light! - if you haven't heard of this these
then your missing out! It's a light that wakes you up with a fabricated natural
light instead of an alarm. It's fantastic and does really help! I know what
your thinking though.... If it really helps why isn't it working now? Well my
friend, because I've been feeling so shit I haven't even had the energy to
change the time settings on it since the clocks went back a few weeks ago now
so it's been out of action. That's how unmotivated I've been. So tonight I'm
gonna push myself to sort it out and fix it!
2. Running - since autumns kicked in my runs have gradually
come to a halt. I've got my first half marathon in March and really need to
have a giant kick up the arse!! The wonderful thing about SAD is you feel
exhausted so I've barely done any of my usual exercise so I've gone from 6 gym
sessions and 3 runs a week to just 2 gym sessions. This is bonkers as I find
exercise really clears my head, is my number one stress reliever and I get such
a buzz after it. So this week I'm gonna really push myself and run every other
day. 3. Diet - so when you feel lower than low you either don't want to eat at all or want to eat EVERYTHING and I mean everything wrong! These last few weeks I've either not eaten or just been eating toast, crisps and sausage rolls and for someone who tries to eat mainly clean and unprocessed foods it's definitely playing havoc with my body! I feel massively bloated - I am literally one Dorito away feel someone asking when my food baby is due! I know it won't be helping my energy levels either so this week I'm cutting out the junk and furlong myself properly...
4. Relax! - I get super stressed and pissed off as I like to
get things done, to be busy, to achieve things but when you have SAD getting
out of bed is a huge achievement let alone doing anything else. I need to let
that go, listen to my body a bit more and chill!
5. Embrace Autumn! - ok so I actually really like this time
of year. I like the autumn evenings, the chill in the air, the pretty colours
of the leaves. I just hate the way having SAD makes me feel. But do you know
what it is the time of year for hibernating and cosying up at home and I think
I need to be cool with that! I run around like a blue ass fly most of the time
so actually maybe my mind is telling me to switch off.Wish me luck with this!
