Be Well

• Citation: Vol. 49 No. 4
• Publication year: 2024
• Year: 2024

BE WELL Vol. 49 No. 4 Pg. 16 Vermont Bar Journal January 2024

by Samara D. Anderson, Esq.

Support your Brain (and Overall Well-Being) during the Winter Months

It started with rain in December, but we are now well into winter in Vermont. Winter has been scientifically proven to change your brain.^[1] As we shift into the winter months, our brains must react to new stressors: less sunlight, shorter days, harsh weather, and extensive changes in our normal routines. When our brains are altered in this way, it also shifts our overall mood and ability to perform complex legal tasks. When we combine these seasonal stresses with the added stress of holidays, it can lead to "Seasonal Affective Disorder" or SAD. This article will outline how SAD affects our brains and what we can do to support our brains and overall wellbeing to mitigate any negative effects during the winter.

SAD affects all of us to varying degrees. We all have different seasonal triggers. (I was triggered by the rainy start to winter back in December). Essentially, when natural sunlight drops and our general routines are altered, our bodies produce less of the mood-regulating hormone serotonin. Serotonin is a natural hormone that lowers or can even prevent feelings of depression. When our serotonin levels are lowered, our brain metabolizes the available serotonin at a faster rate. This leads to an imbalance of chemicals within the brain and may make it harder to regulate or balance our emotions. The result? More emotional reactivity and thereby higher levels of anxiety and feelings of depression. Additional key symptoms of SAD include sleep problems, lethargy, overeating, and generally feeling down and unsociable. These symptoms occur for all of us but can even more drastically affect those with brain or mood-related conditions.

As attorneys, lowered levels of serotonin can negatively influence our ability to complete complex or challenging tasks, which is most of what we do in our daily legal lives! Essentially, our brains either have different resources available during the different seasons to balance our moods, or they have to use different methods to complete the same task in the different seasons.

This is where self-awareness about seasonal effects on your brain and body can help. Here are a few ways to manage the effects of SAD this Winter:

Diet directly influences brain health. "The brain represents about 2% of our body weight, but it consumes about 20% of all of our calories...[essentially] the brain uses more calories than any other organ in our body."^[2] Thus, the brain needs adequate nutrition to function and ensure a vibrant, sharp and youthful mind, so bring some awareness of the right foods to nurture and support your brain. Some suggestions:

• Avocados have healthy...