How emotions can change with the weather

Do you love the cosy feel of winter or the warmth of the sun? Or maybe you enjoy cooler days and find relief from the heat?

No matter your favourite season, the weather has a big effect on your mood – more than you might think. It can make you want to help others, be social, or even go on a date.

Feeling the heat: how it affects you

Sunny days often bring good times like hanging out with friends or enjoying outdoor activities. But did you know that higher temperatures can sometimes make people more aggressive? Research shows that when it’s hot, there can be more fights, arguments, and even road rage. This is even worse on humid days.

Chilling out: how the cold changes mood

When the seasons shift, some people feel down due to something called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It’s like a cloud of sadness that comes with colder weather. With SAD, you might feel less happy, have low energy, and not enjoy things you used to love. This happens because there’s less sunlight, which affects hormones like melatonin and serotonin.

SAD can show up in different ways:

• You might lose interest in things you usually enjoy.
• You could end up sleeping more because you feel tired.
• Feeling both slow and restless at the same time.
• It’s harder to focus and concentrate.
• You might have more negative thoughts.

Exercise: a bright spot in changing moods

In times of changing weather, exercise can be like a ray of sunshine. It can help improve your mood when the weather tries to bring you down. When skilled hands work on your body, it triggers relaxation that can lead to good things:

• More happy hormones: exercise can make your brain produce more serotonin; the chemical that makes you feel happy. This can fight off the sad feelings that colder weather might bring.
• Less stress: when your muscles are worked, it makes you feel relaxed and less stressed.
• Feeling better: exercise can make your overall mood better by reducing the stress hormone called cortisol. This can help you feel less sad during gloomy days.
• Mind and body together: exercise helps your mind and body work together in harmony. This can keep your emotions more stable.
• Taking care of you: choosing exercise is like saying yes to self-care. When you take care of yourself, you’re better prepared to handle whatever the weather throws your way.

So, whether it’s sunshine or snowflakes outside, remember that exercise can be your friend. It’s a way to find calm and balance when the weather messes with your feelings.

Finally, if you want to cheat a little, you can get all the benefits above from therapies such as massage, chiropractic and physiotherapy. •