Nice Weather

The warm 50 degree weather certainly encourages a sunny outlook on your day. As the semester nears an end, your mind starts to wonder and dream about the gorgeous summer days not too far in the future. Although nice weather may distract you from class or tempt you not to go in order to enjoy the fresh air, it's definitely a mood booster.

If you wake-up to look out your bedroom window to find the sky is overcast and there isn't a speck of blue in sight, most people wouldn't be obliged to crawling back under the covers. A great sunny day without a cloud in the sky is a positive way to begin a Monday morning. I wonder if people realize the impact weather and sun can have on their mood?

Seasonal affective disorder, also known as the winter blues, can have a big influence on many individuals. "Seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that follows the seasons. The most common type of SAD is called winter depression. It usually begins in late fall or early winter and goes away by summer. A less common type of SAD, known as summer depression, usually begins in the late spring or early summer. It goes away by winter. SAD may be related to changes in the amount of daylight during different times of the year."

"As many as half a million people in the United States may have winter depression. Another 10% to 20% may experience mild SAD. SAD is more common in women than in men. Although some children and teenagers get SAD, it usually doesn't start in people younger than 20 years of age. For adults, the risk of SAD decreases as they get older. SAD is more common in northern geographic regions."

There are a high number of people who suffer from SAD. This goes to show that the amount of sunlight you're exposed to can seriously impact your life. In Boston especially, the winters are long and there are periods where the sun hides forever. Luckily, it seems that spring is slowly rolling in.