How can I keep my mental health in check when the season changes?

As soon as September hits, autumn super fans start to post photos of streets lined with orange trees, pumpkin-spiced coffees and the fact they’re happy that ‘cosy’ season is upon us. But where does that leave those who function better in summer when the nights are longer and the days are hotter? If you’re a ‘summer person,’ the change in season might feel challenging to get used to, significantly when the clocks change and it’s dark by tea-time. So, is there anything you can do to make the transition less brutal and help keep your mental health in check when it feels like a downward spiral towards winter? Well, there is a correlation between food and mental health – so read on to learn a little bit more. 

Keep exercising 

Summer lends itself to exercising outdoors, but that can become more difficult when the weather changes. After all, who wants to go for a run when it’s dark and cold? But regardless of how tempting it might be to put your trainers away until spring, it’s essential to make exercise a priority because of its numerous benefits to your mental health. Whether you choose to run, cycle, walk or prefer team sports, exercise releases mood-boosting endorphins, helps to improve your quality of sleep and reduces stress and anxiety. It’s also great for increasing self-esteem, energy levels and overall health, so it’s worth keeping it up even when the weather makes you feel lethargic. If your favoured form of exercise is impacted when the season changes, consider joining a gym, trying a new class or even working out at home. Whatever you can do to accommodate exercise into the day will be worth the benefits it provides you with.

Don’t turn to comfort food to help mental health

There’s no doubt that autumn and its cosy connotations encourage us to curl up with a blanket and hot chocolate with all the trimmings. But comfort food seems all the more appealing when it’s dark outside, and the temperatures drop. Still, there’s never been a better time to eat a healthy diet and nourish your body with the right foods. As well as helping to boost your immune system to protect you from the numerous cough and cold viruses that do the rounds during the autumn and winter months, eating a balanced diet will prevent you from feeling sluggish and increase your overall well-being. It’s also the perfect opportunity to take a food intolerance test to see if there are any items that you’re sensitive to that could be causing digestive symptoms such as bloating or abdominal pain. If your intolerance test highlights certain foods you’re intolerant to, cutting them out of your diet is an instant way to improve your physical and mental health.

Make your mental health a priority

Autumn and winter both have reputations for being busy months. Halloween, Bonfire Night, Christmas shopping, buying and putting up decorations, holiday traditions and all the organising that comes with it can quickly leave you feeling frazzled and overwhelmed. While there’s no getting away from the fact the calendar will be busy, make sure you allocate some time for yourself. Hence, you still have time to enjoy the things that make you feel grounded and enable you to breathe. Give yourself an afternoon off for a walk, schedule an hour in the bath with a book or head to the gym for a run and a relaxing swim. Whatever it is that helps you to feel like your head is above the water and not falling below it, make it a non-negotiable part of the week. As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup, and if you’re trying to tick every box without resting and recharging, your mental health won’t thank you for it.

Don’t compare yourself

There are a lot of expectations to do everything and to do it all perfectly over the next few months, mainly when there are a lot of holidays in a short space of time. The unrealistic standards social media provides only heaps the pressure by displaying images of flawless events and get-togethers that real life doesn’t compare to. After all, how can we look amazing, stay calm, organise every detail and have fun, all while keeping on top of work, life admin, school demands and family life? We can’t and having such high expectations sets you up for a loss. Instead, focus on the plans vital to you and turn down anything you don’t want to do. There’s no point exhausting yourself over invitations you don’t want to accept, and you’ll up being so run down that it will spoil the plans you look forward to. Instead, focus on the events that mean a lot and take social media photos with a pinch of salt.  

Now you’ve read about the correlation between food and mental health, if you have any questions about how a food intolerance test can help to improve your health and well-being this autumn, please email [email protected] or fill out your details on our contact form.