The UK’s weather is unpredictable, constantly changing and always making you question if a coat is necessary accessory to your outfit. However, does this capricious climate also have an underlying impact on the way we feel, act, and interact with those around us?  

With the summer months approaching, and temperatures rising (hopefully) you may notice a slight altercation with how you view everyday life. Although you might be wondering why this occurs.

During the winter months, studies have shown that there is a large increase in cases of ‘seasonal effective disorder’ (SAD) which causes people to feel enhanced symptoms of things like a persistent low mood, difficulty concentrating, irregular sleep patterns and more. Scientists believe this is due to three things.

  1. Production of melatonin: melatonin can cause a person to become increasingly more tired, resulting in people with higher levels in their body becoming more effected by SAD.
  2. Production of serotonin: this is caused by a lack of sunlight, resulting in lowering your mood, appetite and sleeping pattern.
  3. Body’s internal clock: Our bodies utilise things like sunlight as a routing for day-to-day activities such as waking up. Lower light levels in the winter can disrupt this and lead to enhanced symptoms of SAD.

Conversely, as the clocks go forward in the spring, and light levels begin to increase on the daily, your mood can start to increase and leave you feeling much more active than you were before due to the following things.

  1. Vitamin D exposure: increased exposure to sunlight can trigger the body to produce vitamin D, which is linked to mood regulation, decreasing your risk of SAD.
  2. Social interaction: Good weather normally increases the number of social gatherings a person might go to, providing opportunities for social interaction and communication with others, which is very important for your mental health.
  3. Increased physical activity: Pleasant weather encourages people to go outdoors and participate in physical activities, which is known to boost dopamine production and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

As a result of this, its obvious that the impact of weather on our mood is undeniable, and as research is every growing and advancing it becomes very clear that there’s a positive correlation between exposure to good weather and an increase in mental health. So get outside when you can and cross your fingers for some good weather this summer!