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While many of us are excited about the fall, a season synonymous with coziness, pumpkin spice and warmth, a common side effect that comes with the change in weather is autumn burnout. Some of you may already be familiar with the term, while others may have experienced it but haven’t quite defined what it is.
“Autumn burnout” or “autumn fatigue” is the seasonal change that leaves our bodies with an underlying feeling of anxiety or stress that inevitably burns us out. While this isn’t interchangeable with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the symptoms are quite similar and occur around the same time of year. Some of us are returning to work or school with post-vacation blues from the summer. The weather starts to drop and while a nice breeze feels pleasant, that paired with shorter daylight hours affects our circadian rhythm. This fatigue leaves us less motivated in work, our social batteries die a little faster and in some cases it can affect our ability to even take care of ourselves.
While there isn’t much to report on how many people on average are affected by autumn burnout, Google searches for the term and others related to it increased by 348% at the start of the season last year. On average every year, about 5% of people in the US are affected by SAD, and it’s more prevalent in young adult women that live in regions further from the equator. These statistics show us that there is a chance this is more prevalent than we realize, and an important way to combat it is to adjust our lifestyle to the season.
Focus on building a night routine to help you wind down earlier in the evenings for better sleep. This also gives you proper rest and can allow you to start your days earlier and get more sunlight in. I love using aromatherapy to help me wind down. You could either invest in a good diffuser or find candles that include essential oils like Lavender or Sandalwood. Also consider other variables that affect your sleep. Invest in pajamas that are breathable but still keep you warm or quality sheets to make your sleep environment more comfortable.
This time of year has many nicknames — spooky season, sweater weather — but how about soup season? There is nothing more therapeutic than making a pot of soup with your favorite ingredients, cupping the warm bowl and sipping some soup while you watch a good comfort movie. I use fresh ingredients from the farmers market, break out a good dutch oven, like one from Le Creuset, and make bigger batches that I can use for leftovers so I don't have to worry about cooking and cleaning up every meal. Using cute dishes can also help make cooking even more fun.
It’s easy to stay dormant around this time and not feel the motivation to move around, but this is when I really try to focus on following a workout schedule. One of my favorite exercises to incorporate at least once a week is a yoga flow, either in a class or through an at-home routine. The idea behind this is building your core strength and getting movement, but also following a practice that focuses on incorporating meditation as part of it to help rest your mind.
Autumn burnout can cause you to feel less motivated, but it’s important to stay on track, whether that’s at work, in your physical health, or in your mental health. For me, sticking with a routine makes every day feel a little easier. Consistency can be a great way to make it through the colder seasons, whether that’s with keeping a planner or a journal, using your comfort water bottle, or physically tracking your health and mood.
