Sunny with a high of 75
By mattsmallbone. Filed in Health |Tags: florida, moods, sunny, weather
I have looked back on my last few weeks of blogs and have realized that the Tennessee winter has finally locked me into a cycle of melancholy. It is just so grey around here. I apologize to any and all Calvinists, Catholics, Protestants, Americans, Australians, brothers-in-law and Canadians who have been bummed out by my last few blogs. I blame the weather.
I felt my mood lighten last weekend in Florida on the Michael W. Smith tour. I thought that it was just uplifting to my soul to be back playing great music with my best friends, but it appears that there is also some science behind my mood swings. Check this:
Going to a warm place in the middle of winter can be a huge mood booster. Pleasant weather has been proven to improve moods, memory, and broaden our cognitive thinking skills.
In a recent study, participants who spent time outdoors in moderate weather were more content than those who spent all day inside. They also found better memory scores when they ran tests comparing the two groups. Research has also proven that sunlight boosts your serotonin levels by providing it with vitamin D. Of course people feel a little more blue in the winter and better in the spring. That is no big shock. Some even experience SA in the winter, which is seasonal affective disorder from lack of sunlight and warmth.
The best temperature for humans is about 72 degrees because it is the most temperate. That explains why people in southern California are so happy all the time. Research has also found a link between hot weather and violent behavior. To improve mood, a person must spend at least 30 minutes outside in warm, sunny weather. Spending time indoors when the weather outside is so nice tends to decrease mood and diminish critical thinking patterns. It is most likely because we resent being cooped-up inside when spring time arrives – commonly referred to as spring fever. It can also make inside activities seem boring or annoying causing less productivity. SOURCE: articlesbase.com
There you have it. If you are down… you need to try and get 30mins of sunshine a day. I would also recommend moving away from Canada or St Paul, MN…
Friday, March 12th 2010 at 1:31 pm |
Or NE Ohio!
Friday, March 12th 2010 at 2:11 pm |
Yes, SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is… sad. lol. Lame joke..i know.. sorry
But very true- clouds, rain, and cold weather bring down the soul (although i must admit that i love a little rain here and there). We get spoiled with great weather here in Southern California , but don’t let that fool you- we’re always rushing, rushing, rushing (many of us anyways..), and that can be stressful.. A little adrenaline is great, too much of it can kill ya. I’ve looked at some pics from my friends living in TN, SC, NC, Georgia, etc, and i have to admit that i got a little jealous of the freedom that you all have there, especially the kids.. they are free to run around in the woods,catch lizards and climb trees, enjoy their childhood,.. There’s just something about being out in nature that’s calming, and brings happiness.
Now i want to go hit the beach- too bad i don’t have time. lol
Here in S. Cali we’ve got MAD… ahaha.. [Mac Affective Disorder].. from staring at our computers for too long and playing with all the other gizmos (and i’m SO guilty of that..) But, yes, sunny days are happy days
Sending sunshine your way
Have a great weekend!
Zorina.
Friday, March 12th 2010 at 5:10 pm |
When it is cold, cloudy and damp outside, you also tend to eat more! Junk food, comfort food, any food! Then you gain weight and it bums you out even more. Unless that’s just me….