Spring fatigue is a real phenomenon that many people experience as the seasons change, especially when transitioning from winter to spring.

Despite the days getting longer and brighter, are you experiencing:
lack of energy to do daily tasks
need a nap during the day or feel the need to sleep in
feeling down or slightly sad
feeling tired and sluggish
If so, you may be experiencing spring ‘fatigue’ and we will walk you through some suggestions to battle it. Note - If you're feeling unwell, consult your doctor for proper evaluation and treatment, as this article is only in the context of spring ‘fatigue’.

5 Reasons Why You May be Experiencing Spring ‘Fatigue’

Changing daylight and temperature:

Longer days and fluctuating temperatures can throw off your circadian rhythm, making you feel more sluggish as your body adjusts to the new schedule. As the body adjusts to seasonal temperature changes, blood vessels can dilate, lowering blood pressure and may result in fatigue, dizziness, or irritability. This adaptation can take 2–4 weeks, after which symptoms typically resolve, restoring energy for summer. Alongside this, as daylight increases in spring, the body produces more serotonin (the "happiness hormone," its production increases with more light exposure) and less melatonin (known as the "sleep hormone," it is produced in the dark and promotes sleep). During this transition, hormone levels must readjust, leading to temporary lethargy.

Allergies:

Spring often brings an increase in pollen, which can trigger allergies and cause symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or congestion.

Vitamin D levels:

After months of limited sunlight during winter, your body might be low on vitamin D, which can leave you feeling tired or rundown as your body starts adjusting to more daylight.

Sleep disruptions:

As the weather warms up, people may sleep with windows open or have different routines, which can lead to poor-quality sleep or more interrupted rest.

Changes in diet or activity levels:

People often begin being more active in the spring, or they may change their diet to lighter, seasonal foods, which can have an impact on energy levels until your body adjusts.

Spring fatigue isn’t usually something to worry about, but if it feels more severe or lasts longer than expected, it might be worth discussing with a healthcare professional to rule out other issues.

5 Tips to Overcome Spring ‘Fatigue’

And step fresh into Spring!

Grab some Fresh Air

Go out for a walk shortly after waking up, or simply open a few windows to bring in more fresh air and take in a deep breath! Oxygen promotes blood circulation and can help boost our mental well-being. Did you know that the Carebee Senior Services Listing (aka the Rolodex) has a ‘Fitness & Fun’ category where you can find listings of Senior Hiking Clubs and more? Simply navigate to the Rolodex from your main portal page and click on the ‘Fitness and Fun’ Category, or simply click here to get to the category.

Indulge in a complete breakfast

Nutrition is key to fuelling our body during these times and will further provide the energy we need during this time. Ensure that you start your day right with a good breakfast. If you are not enthusiastic about cooking, you can also look into meal delivery services, which can offer a wide variety of options such as frozen foods and fresh ready to eat meals. Click here to see a listing of meal companies within the Carebee Rolodex.

Take a look at our article on the Canadian Food Guide as well, for more information on nutrition - click here.

Take a Hot or a Cold Shower

This tip is also great for promoting blood circulation and can also boost serotonin levels and is nicely invigorating.

Introduce Movement into your Routine

Doing daily stretches and exercises is a great way to both maintain mobility and boost our blood circulation (sure bound to increase our happy hormones as well). Whether you prefer to do this at home or out in the community there are various options. Some seniors programming offers virtual yoga, while you can also go in person for various activities. To see more, snoop around the Carebee Rolodex under Social/Support Services category and Fitness & Fun.

Call a Friend and Reconnect

Coming out of a long cold winter can also make us feel isolated and further contribute to the spring ‘fatigue’ phenomena. Call a friend and reconnect for a nice phone chat or plan a coffee/lunch date. Did you know we host monthly Member Exclusive Events for all Carebee Members? Login to your Carebee Portal and visit the Member’s Event page to learn more about our upcoming member event. We hope to see you there!

Thank you for Reading and we hope you found this information useful!

Bzzz,

Team Carebee