Spring: Sun brings joy, but also tiredness! Here's how to deal with it!

Spring: Sun brings joy, but also tiredness! Here's how to deal with it!

With spring comes a time of change and new beginnings, but many people face this time of year with tiredness and listlessness. The current spring often brings with it symptoms such as lethargy and irritability, which clouds the joy of nature's awakening. While the birds are chirping and the plants are blooming, many people don't get the energy boost they're longing for. This suggests that the so-called spring fatigue has a significant impact on sleep patterns, such as crown reported.

The cause of these signs of fatigue in spring could be hormonal. Although hormones like dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin and endorphins become more active, many people still feel exhausted as the days get longer and warmer. This discrepancy can be explained by various physiological and psychological processes.

Influence of the seasons on the body and psyche

Research led by Prof. Christelle Meyer at the University of Liège has shown that the seasons influence not only nature, but also our brain and psyche. The studies, which have been ongoing since 2016, have discovered annual rhythms in brain activity that correlate with seasonal changes in hormone production. Sunlight in particular plays a crucial role here.

When sunlight hits the retina, it is registered by ganglion cells, which send signals to the hypothalamus. This region of the brain influences the production of important hormones such as cortisol, melatonin and serotonin. In winter we tend to produce more melatonin, which is responsible for increased sleepiness, and less serotonin or dopamine. The mood is often depressed in the colder months.

Spring and its hormonal changes

With spring and increasing exposure to light, many people's moods and mental health improve. The body produces more dopamine and serotonin while melatonin production decreases, making us more alert. But these changes can also have negative effects: a sudden reduction in melatonin can lead to depressive moods in some people. The Falstaff highlights that in addition to physiological aspects, cultural and ecological factors also shape our behavior throughout the year.

In summary, it shows that spring can be associated with both positive and negative feelings. As nature awakens to new life, many are struggling with the symptoms of spring fatigue. A better understanding of hormonal changes could help us better cope with the challenges of this transition period and enjoy the positive aspects of spring.