
When the winter months hit, many of us feel the need to hibernate.
Suddenly, getting out of bed in the morning is a Herculean task. Mid-day fatigue rises to another level. Going to the gym—a task that was easy during the summer and fall—now feels nearly impossible.
Is this just your imagination? Probably not. Odds are it’s winter-related fatigue. There are scientific reasons people feel more tired during winter than they do during other seasons. The good news is you can take steps to fight the fatigue and stay energetic, even during the darkest days of winter.
Less Sun Makes Us More Sleepy
Stepping outside on a sunny day is one of life’s simple pleasures. It’s also something we don’t get the chance to do very often during winter.
For one, the days get shorter during winter. This is especially true for those living in northern cities. For example, take a city like Cleveland, Ohio. On June 21 (the summer solstice), the sun was in the sky for 15 hours, 10 minutes and 21 seconds. On December 21st (the winter solstice), the sun will be in the sky for 9 hours, 10 minutes and 11 seconds. That’s over six hours of less daylight.
While everyone enjoys a nice day, sunlight is closely tied to human biology. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland inside the brain. Melatonin regulates sleep and wakefulness. When we’re in the dark, our bodies produces more melatonin. Winter is a dark time, so our bodies produce more melatonin in response. This leads to excessive feelings of fatigue and tiredness. According to the Mayo Clinic, “the change in season can disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.”
The above information was obtained from Stack.com. Visit their website to see more information pertaining to Winter Fatigue: