Humans, just like most other living things, have a circadian rhythm—a roughly 24-hour cycle of physical and behavioral changes based mainly on the light and darkness in our environment. Our circadian rhythm guides our sleep/wake cycle, our hormones, our body temperature, and many other critical bodily functions. Winter, with its shorter days and colder weather that forces you to cover up or simply stay indoors, can throw you off that circadian rhythm and slow down your physical activity. If you let that happen, your sleep patterns can be disrupted, your moods disturbed, your energy levels lowered, and your immune systems weakened—all symptoms of the winter blahs. Blahs Winter
Keep moving! During the warmer months, there’s more to keep you moving, whether it’s recreation or outdoor chores. But when it’s cold, you may give up many of those activities. You’ll put away the golf clubs. Drive instead of walk.
Reorganise closets instead of work in the garden. Losing that regular physical activity may lead to lower energy and even contribute to weight gain.
35 JULY 2017 | MELALEUCA.COM
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter