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We have been having a long stretch of cold weather, as have most people. What makes it worse here is the high winds and we haven't seen the sun much. Our normal is about 50 high but we've barely gotten above 35 for most of the past couple of weeks. I already take the vitamin D. I don't doubt if we got back up to days above 50 and feeling a little warmth from the sun, I'd start to feel better.
Maybe you need to move further south. I've been to Lubbock and I don't know if I would like it even during the summer.
Here in south texas, even though it is kind of cold and rainy, at least the grass is still green. Some rose bushes are even blooming.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Winter is very tough on me, farm kid, outside every daylight hour (I flee to SA TX from the northern Latitude and dreary PNW).
Many suffer from SAD, and there are some very nifty light boxes (~$60) you can set near your computer terminal. (needs to be correct spectrum)
Keeping a schedule that compliments your body rhythm and activities is very helpful, especially if you have an exercise partner. I like to swim laps in winter, and sometimes do so for 3-4 hrs at a time ~ 6-10 miles of swimming seems to perk me up.
I hibernate in winter to prepare for long PNW summer days (5AM - 10 PM)..
When retired, hibernation can easily get out of hand. Rip Van Winkle...
I get depressed every fall and it's due to the dark days when we turn the clock back. Actually, I have said for years that when the flowers die, I die too.
For one thing I feel sad that everything I love in my garden is going to die, all the excitement I feel about running outside to look at the garden every day is gone, and I can't go out for walks or go outside very much. I'll be cooped up inside, bored.
The short days just sap my energy. Just about the time I would feel like going out and going anywhere, I have to remind myself that I'd better do it fast because it will be dark by 4:15. No fun coming home in the dark, especially when there could be ice on the roads.
The dry cold is draining. I'm away from it right now--I just went to Florida and even though it was cold for them, I felt normal. And I felt GREAT seeing flowers and colors--green grass, green leaves, flowers of all colors--LIFE.
Nothing helps except to get away. I already eat fresh organic food, take a great vitamin supplement, and I am not low on vitamin D. I don't know what to do because I wouldn't be able to stand the hot humid Florida summers and I can't afford to own two homes and be a snowbird, nor would I want to. So what is this? Our lower tolerance for weather extremes as we age? Or the fact that when we were working we couldn't go outside anyway? It didn't make much difference what the weather was!
Cold is known for problems as you age. The air is thinner for one thing plus you consume more energy doing anything; with old joints to boot.Most older people also feel the cold worse as we age.
Cold is known for problems as you age. The air is thinner for one thing plus you consume more energy doing anything; with old joints to boot.Most older people also feel the cold worse as we age.
Several factual errors above. First, cold air is denser (thicker) than warm air. That's why pilots are taught to be aware of density altitude issues during hot weather.
Second, why would we consume more energy doing a given task in cold weather? It makes no sense at all.
What is true is that older people often cope poorly with cold weather; it's because their metabolism has slowed. If all you do is sit around, then your metabolism will be slower. If you remain active, you generate more body heat. Old people are more likely to just sit around.
I get depressed every fall and it's due to the dark days when we turn the clock back. Actually, I have said for years that when the flowers die, I die too.
For one thing I feel sad that everything I love in my garden is going to die, all the excitement I feel about running outside to look at the garden every day is gone, and I can't go out for walks or go outside very much. I'll be cooped up inside, bored.
The short days just sap my energy. Just about the time I would feel like going out and going anywhere, I have to remind myself that I'd better do it fast because it will be dark by 4:15. No fun coming home in the dark, especially when there could be ice on the roads.
The dry cold is draining. I'm away from it right now--I just went to Florida and even though it was cold for them, I felt normal. And I felt GREAT seeing flowers and colors--green grass, green leaves, flowers of all colors--LIFE.
Nothing helps except to get away. I already eat fresh organic food, take a great vitamin supplement, and I am not low on vitamin D. I don't know what to do because I wouldn't be able to stand the hot humid Florida summers and I can't afford to own two homes and be a snowbird, nor would I want to. So what is this? Our lower tolerance for weather extremes as we age? Or the fact that when we were working we couldn't go outside anyway? It didn't make much difference what the weather was!
I'm 28 and used to not mind winter, but the last two winters have been especially bad IMO. I was in TN last year and it was extremely cold compared to what it always was. There seemed to be more snow, it hung around longer, etc. This year in Indiana is even worse.
I just don't have the desire to do much when it's overcast and everything is covered in snow/ice. I usually take walks over my lunch hour when it's 30+, but we can't even get that warm regularly to keep the roads clear. If it's been that warm, it's pretty much been raining daily. I don't even want to go to the gym on the way home when it's 10 outside. I don't even want to deal with the cold at all.
It was/is my understanding that SADD was basically a result of the shorter days and lack of sunlight (Vit D) and I did buy one of the lights.
Even though there was no immediate change...like, oh I felt blah 10 minutes ago and now feel energetic.....it was more like, after a few days, realizing that blah feeling was gone.
The alternative is to get outdoors everyday and severe cold sure explains why so many don't.
Easy to sit in front of the light while on the computer or get yourself outdoors for at least half an hour.
Or move south
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