5 Easy Ways to Boost Your Mood on Wet or Cold Days
It was October. It was beautiful. Your coursemate looked puzzled after you recalled that particular month, not elaborating on what you just said. (You went to Kensington Gardens, and you couldn't help but notice the changes in the color of the leaves. J.M. Barrie mentioned the Sunken Garden in "Peter Pan", but you were exhausted to notice the trellises. And you were not that lucky to catch the roses in full bloom.) It was a long September day (when you recalled your last holiday at the other side of the Atlantic pond), and you noticed that your spirits weren't high. It could be the bleaker months. And there were a number of occasions when this kind of weather made you miserable. Outside. What to do?
You wrote an essay on Ursula K. Le Guin's works, and you were slightly hurt when your professor wasn't so impressed at your analysis. The (late) summer gave you the chance to read one of her books, a collection of her short stories that the American author would call "Orsinian Tales". And you were amazed at how Le Guin turned a story of defection into a charming fairy tale. (The story was set during the Cold War.) Your (best) coursemate seemed to dismiss it, as he recommended Ivan Vladislavic's "Industrial Theater". The narrator (of this short story) recounted his attending of the launching of Ford Kafka, asking you to imagine the famed Czech writer, a poster boy for standing up to bureaucracy, getting lost in the African rainforest. The following scenes would remind your mate of "The Lion King" if not for the grand entrance of Ford's latest model. Your coursemate grinned after he noticed your curious expression. (Kafka might be offended, if not file a case.) Your mate couldn't tell if Vladislavic really attended a peculiar event (like he described in the story), but it would be more interesting than the author's other short story about Ronald Reagan's America. (You studied it last year, so you had enough of it.) This same coursemate always looks forward to the colder months. (He likes the cold, he likes the romance of it.) It was the opposite with you, as you struggled with the seasonal affective disorder (SAD) last year.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) had a greater effect on your mood and energy level. Symptoms included a lack of energy, low mood, and difficulty concentrating. You were ashamed to tell your coursemates about it, who complained about your university's requirement to show your proof of vaccination. (This proof would give them the right to party.) And you don't want to compare your experience to a (bleak) Ingmar Bergman picture. You want to keep your spirits high in the bleaker months.
Right as Rain: Identity the Sad Symptoms
If you notice a change in feelings and behavior, write about it. Talk to your friend(s) and a counselor. It would affect your focus (on the coursework), so these conversations should keep you on the right track, as well as ensuring that these changes won't last for more than two weeks or keep returning.
A lamp may help. You're thinking of a washout this fall, which is not so different from the weather disturbances that brought flash floods to many parts of America. You may be fortunate not to live in one of those areas, but the gray weather won't bring too much sunlight. You must see the (artificial) light, as the lamp could be effective for seasonal kinds of depression.
A pair of waterproof running shoes might be a good investment. The rain shouldn't discourage you from having an outdoor exercise routine. As a matter of fact, you might only need the rain to pour down your face. But keep an eye on the forecast. (Heavy rainfall is not advisable.)
Inclement weather makes it easy to keep in touch with friends. The pandemic postponed your plans to see your friends and the delta variant might extend it to another year. This gloomy forecast shouldn't lead to your poor mental health (unless you're reading too many H.P. Lovecraft short stories). Text your friends who miss the nature trail. (Some told you that they don't approve of paying to see a waterfall. They asked you if you would pay to see a mountain. You were about to ask them about Yellowstone, but you held your tongue.) You can keep in touch by video call, where you can discuss how the pandemic freed you from a cataclysm to reimagine what your lives to be. (Try to be supportive to those who cling to their travel goals, where they argued that a tourist's timescale is finely calibrated. A single day is a difference between innocence and experience, they add. You rather think of snorkeling and sunbathing while a crew makes a barbecue. Castaways with catering, which is your idea of a perfect holiday.)
Embrace the gray weather. You were grumpy when you woke early for a morning tour of the Scottish Highlands, but the damp, cold weather was a new experience for you. It put a smile on your face. It should make you look at fall - and winter - as another adventure. You should put behind what happened last season.
When the Sun Shines, Enjoy It
The weather in the UK is so changeable, which delights you. But climate warming would make weather pattern a thing of the past. If the sun does shine, prioritize getting outside. It should help treat SAD. If it's not enough, get into nature. Invite your friends. Who cares if it rains?
