When most people hear of seasonal affective disorder they associate it with the fresh dose of nose-hair freezings when stepping outside, watching your hope for any productivity for the day fade at the 3pm sunset, and/or not having the motivation for your daily metamorphosis as you emerge from your warmth cocoon after 5 alarm snoozes and countless internal debates of the true worst case scenario if you just slept in that day. It may surprise you to hear that for some people Summer is their Wintertime, as they loosen up their daily structures and the seemingly unending heat begins to chafe your spirits worse than your spontaneously combustible corduroy khaki pants.
Although the science behind this phenomenon is still young, some attribute the emotional drain to the flip-side of issue experienced in winter. Too much light can lead to decreases in melatonin causing your sleep quality to slip faster than a soaking toddler running on tile. Ouchies.
Aside from leaving your curtains drawn all day, forcing Ben and Steph , the all-knowing self-declared protectors of the street, to bring their binoculars back out, there are some ways to overcome the sense of being deserted in the desert without help.
Relationship expert John Gottman explains that you should strive to create shared meaning in your marriage or family through being open about your dreams and goals and forming your married lives around both partners. This can lead to couple-specific traditions, rituals, and understanding of roles in your family. For example, I'm a budding baker and I want to improve my skills, my spouse loves watching new movies each week and wants to spend more time with me. So every Friday we put the kids down, make pizza (I've got a pretty wicked dough recipe now), and watch a new movie. It may seem fairly commonplace, but it's actually meaningful to both of us and is something we look forward to each week.
If you're struggling to keep smiling during these sweaty semanas, try creating some shared meaning in your family. Remember if you need help turning that frown upside down - our brand of citrus-infused bath products are ready and waiting to brighten up your day. ;)
Comments will be approved before showing up.