When the clocks change in October, I always find myself checking if this is the good one or not? Do I get an extra hour in bed?

What I am sure about is that when I am out visiting clients or delivering mental health training during these winter months, I often set off in darkness and come home in darkness, which does take a bit of adjusting to.

For some people, it’s no surprise that they find themselves feeling low and less happy than in the summer months. The change of seasons can affect our mental health leaving some people with the ‘winter blues.’

Rachel Boyd from the mental health charity Mind, says that it is not unusual to feel more cheerful and energetic when the sun is shining and the days are longer or to find that you eat more or sleep longer in winter.

For some people, the change in the length of day and lack of sunshine can have a much greater impact on their mood and energy and lead to a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Rachel adds that “Most people who have SAD will be affected when the hours of daylight are shorter between December and February.”

It is important, in this season of goodwill, to take time out to relax, enjoy ourselves, spend time with loved ones and recharge our batteries.

It is also a time of year to:

Little acts of kindness can have a big impact.

Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year!

Seamus Ferguson, BlueRidge Performance Management