Do you ever feel gloomy on a rainy day, but feel joyful on a sunny day? Does the weather affect our moods? Most importantly, how does the weather affect our moods? Continue reading to find out!
Based on much research, though the weather turns out to not be a huge factor that affects our mood, it is still a part of many factors that can affect our mood.
Let's learn how different types of weather can affect our mood!
Sunny
Studies have shown that when the weather is sunny, people tend to be happier and less tired. Why? This is because the sun provides our skin Vitamin D, which allows our brain to produce serotonin. Serotonin is a type of neurotransmitter and produces a feeling of happiness. According to Bustle, "Researchers from a 2004 University of Michigan study found that people who spent at least 30 minutes outside during periods of pleasant weather reported improved mood, memory, and openness to new information and creative thoughts." Warm weather not only boosts your happiness level but also contributes to your memory and creativity. Try taking a walk around your neighborhood or exercising outdoors when the weather is sunny, as it will benefit your body and well-being!
Is Hot Weather All That Great?
For many people, it's difficult to sleep at night when it's hot. Exercising when the weather is hot is also very uncomfortable since it puts more stress on your body. Surprisingly, many people become more violent and aggressive when the temperature is high. According to a Psychcentral, researchers of a 1984 study wrote, “High levels of humidity lowered scores on concentration while increasing reports of sleepiness." Hot weather makes most of us want to stay indoors with air conditioning and fans on, which leads to laziness and tiredness.
Rain
Studies have proven that rain brings people's emotions down. Many begin to feel sad, depressed, tired, or unmotivated on rainy days. Since there is no sun in the sky, there is not enough serotonin and vitamin D received in our body. According to WebMD, "...nearly 9 percent of people fall into the “rain haters” category. This group feels angrier and less happy on days with more precipitation. Another study found that rain even increased the number of negative posts published on Facebook.
Ways to Improve Your Mood Even When There is No Sunlight:
Exercise: When are you feeling gloomy either because of the weather or an event that occurred in your life, exercising can make a huge difference! Studies have shown that exercising even for 10 minutes every day can help improve your mood. When you exercise, brain chemicals such as dopamine and endorphins are released. These chemicals help boost your happiness and confidence level.
Turn on your light: Even when it's not sunny, turn on your light indoors since light is proven to boost serotonin.
Go outdoors: Take a walk outdoors every day, even on cloudy days, to help boost your well-being. UV rays are still present during rainy and cloudy days and they also help boost serotonin.
Eat the right foods: Foods that are tryptophan-rich have amino acids called tryptophan, and these amino acids are turned into serotonin in your body. Some examples of foods that are tryptophan-rich are cheese, tofu, beans, eggs, and nuts.
Think happy thoughts: When you are feeling gloomy, think about happy thoughts. Write in your journal about the beautiful memories you have kept in your head, talk to a friend, look at past photos, and meditate.
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Weather is closely related to the season. For example, the weather during summer is usually very humid and hot while the weather during winter is usually cold and gloomy. Did you know that there is a disorder called seasonal affective disorder (SAD) that is related to seasons and mood?
Seasonal affective disorder is a disorder that is triggered by the lack of light and symptoms of depression that occur during the late fall and winter. However, the symptoms of depression disappear during the spring. According to MyClevelandClinic, "Approximately half a million people in the United States suffer from winter SAD, while 10% to 20% may suffer from a more mild form of winter blues. Three-quarters of the sufferers are women, and the depression usually starts in early adulthood."
Conclusion
Weather is a factor that can affect our mood. Serotonin and brain chemicals such as dopamine help boost our happiness and confidence level. When there isn't enough serotonin received from the sun, we begin to feel tired, depressed, sad, and lazy. However, we can receive serotonin naturally by adding activities such as exercise into our daily lives. Seasonal affective disorder is when a person's mood depends on the season. I hope you learned more about this topic and found it interesting! Happy learning!
Resources
Raypole, Crystal. “6 Ways to Boost Serotonin Without Medication.”Healthline, 22 Apr. 2019, www.healthline.com/health/how-to-increase-serotonin#mood-induction.
Whitbread, Daisy. “Top 10 Foods Highest in Tryptophan.”Myfooddata, 10 Apr. 2019, www.myfooddata.com/articles/high-tryptophan-foods.php#:%7E:text=High%20tryptophan%20foods%20include%20nuts,beans%2C%20lentils%2C%20and%20eggs.
“Can Rainy Days Really Get You Down?”WebMD, 14 Oct. 2015, www.webmd.com/balance/features/can-rainy-days-really-get-you-down#1.
“403 Forbidden.”Why Weather Affects Mood, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-human-beast/202004/why-weather-affects-mood. Accessed 1 July 2020.
Haslam, Nick. “Here Comes the Sun: How the Weather Affects Our Mood.”The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2013, theconversation.com/here-comes-the-sun-how-the-weather-affects-our-mood-19183.
Bernstein, Marion. “6 Scientific Ways Weather Affects Your Mood, So You Can Adapt Your Mind And Body Through The Changing Seasons.”Bustle, 28 Sept. 2015, www.bustle.com/articles/113278-6-scientific-ways-weather-affects-your-mood-so-you-can-adapt-your-mind-and-body-through.
“Seasonal Depression (SAD): Symptoms & Treatments.”Cleveland Clinic, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9293-seasonal-depression. Accessed 1 July 2020.
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