• Seasonal affective disorder
• Aaa... puppy!
• How to cope?
• Drink a green smoothie every day
• Go to bed 5 minutes earlier every day
• Avoid coffee on the weekend

It seems difficult to find a more optimistic season than spring. Nature awakens, the days grow longer, the temperature steadily rises... Yet many people feel depressed, weak, and generally discouraged right now.

These paradoxical feelings can have many causes, but perhaps the most common are two: "reverse" seasonal affective disorder (commonly called seasonal depression) and the start of allergy season.

Seasonal affective disorder

Seasonal affective disorder is a not-yet-fully understood mental health condition characterized by a decline in mood and energy levels with the changing seasons, likely due to the daily shortening of the day and the drop in temperature in autumn or winter. Why do so many people feel depressed in spring, as the day arrives and the thermometer rises? This is due to several factors. Often, it's the "everyone's happy about spring, but I'm not" effect that increases the negative mood, but scientists speculate that—paradoxically—the rising temperature and more sunshine may be the determining factor.

Aaa... puppy!

Spring is the time of plant growth and flowering, making it one of the worst times for allergy sufferers. Research suggests a link between allergies and depression (in many countries, peak pollen season coincides with the time when most people commit suicide). The relationship between depression and allergies can be exacerbated, especially in people with bipolar disorder. It's no surprise: A constantly runny nose, burning eyes, a scratchy throat, sneezing, and all the other symptoms of a pollen allergy wouldn't really improve anyone's mood.

How to cope?

First, if you suspect you're depressed, you should consult a doctor who can recommend appropriate treatment. Even with allergies, you really don't have to worry; there are effective remedies to relieve even the most bothersome symptoms! However, if you're just bothered by a bit of seasonal blues and you simply need a dose of positive energy, you can try one of the following methods:

1. Drink a green smoothie every day

Why a green smoothie? Because it's an injection of vitamins and minerals (green vegetables have the best nutritional value-to-calorie ratio of any food!) and fruit, a natural energy source found in sugar. It's a delicious and easy way to replenish vitamins we often lack during the pre-harvest season, when the selection of fresh fruits and vegetables is relatively limited. You can use the recipe published on our blog!

2. Go to bed 5 minutes earlier every day

In winter, when darkness lasts more than half the day, sleep patterns often become disrupted: If we go to bed in the dark but also get up in the dark, what difference does it make how long we sleep? Big mistake! The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep each day to feel rested. However, since it's not easy to transition from going to bed at midnight to going to bed with the chickens overnight, it's better to go to bed literally five or ten minutes earlier each day. This gentle transition will help you transition to a new bedtime without stress, and your body will repay you with more energy!

3. Avoid coffee on the weekend

Do you know why coffee works less and less every day? Because you drink it every day and simply become immune to it! If you do a coffee fast for two days a week, you'll start each subsequent week with a slightly reduced coffee tolerance, allowing this soothing liquid to work as intended and giving you that much-desired dose of caffeine and energy.