In the thick of winter, with the festive season just around the corner, you might find that your energy levels start to decrease, serotonin signals feel weaker and tasks grow more tedious to complete. Time, however, waits for no man and so you push on, ignoring those all-important natural cries for help. According to the NHS , “burnout is the result of a prolonged period of stress which negatively affects your wellbeing” – certainly not something to ignore.
So, how can you prevent it or indeed get through it, if you’re already feeling this way? Lifestyle physician and former GP Dr Aileen Alexander shares her top tips and advice. Why do people feel more burnt out during the winter? There are many different reasons, including that in the UK, the days are shorter . “People just don’t get much sunlight and are often going into work and coming back when it’s dark outside,” says Alexander.
“This can start to disrupt your circadian rhythm and hormones in the neurotransmitters inside our body – such as melatonin, our sleep hormone and serotonin, our happy hormone.” Expectations around the festive period also don’t help. “Social pressures can be really tricky: going out at the weekends, family dynamics and all of the general chaos,” she adds.
“I personally come from a blended family and that comes with its own challenges. Not to mention the financial stress surrounding gift-giving and party-throwing, which can lead to this overload.” Can social media ma.
