Are You “Winterized” for the Seattle Winter?

The leaves are just starting to fall and the sun is shining just a bit less. It might be strange to already be thinking about the winter. It’s not even technically October yet!

Hear me out. We have had an unseasonably warm September this year. It’s no wonder that winter might be further from our minds. As you know, the special thing about the Pacific Northwest region is that we get a particularly noticeable change in daylight and cloudiness as winter approaches. Both interact with our biological systems to slow down processing. Sluggishness, drowsiness, fluctuation in appetite to name some common responses. Seasonal depression is also quite common in our region. There are also considerations like darker skin in BIPOC making getting vitamin D through the sunlight even more difficult - making people more prone to vitamin D deficiency. “Transplants” coming from regions that do not have such distinct seasonal patterns can also have a hard time adjusting to the PNW winter even if this is not their first year living here.

Especially in recent years, there are other challenges we're facing in addition to the darker days in the wintertime. We are faced with unusual weather, distressing current events/political news, and lingering effects of the pandemic to just name a few. Having a plan in mind will help build resilience toward stressors - particularly those that are outside our immediate control. Getting a jump start on planning for winter will also help build momentum and remove barriers for staying engaged. As we transition from the summer, it’s helpful to take advantage of our current energy level and creativity to start planning. You might also start a regularly scheduled activity now that transitions well into the darker, wetter months. Starting now will feel differently compared to starting something once things are slower and darker.

Some examples are:

• If overeating is something that happens in the winter for you, are there things you can do to structure your eating habits based on patterns from previous winters?

• Preparing for winter can also look like tapering off on activities and shift toward other ways of filling your time if you tend to overfill your schedule and find it hard to transition into a more empty schedule.

• Is there travel that would help you reconnect with loved ones and get a break that needs to be planned for and booked now?

I’m a big fan of this self-care assessment. This can be a tool to help you get started on your planning. I'll be making more blog posts in the coming weeks for more self-care ideas. Have fun and be well!