Winter Fatigue Symptoms and Solutions

All the hallmarks of winter approaching – from the sneaking up cold weather, the days growing shorter, and, of course, the oncoming holiday cheer – can also be tied to winter insomnia.

The season is associated with a series of wellbeing complaints, including various winter fatigue symptoms. Here we look at the ways winter affects sleep and offer some suggestions on improving your nighttime routine to help.

Causes of Winter Insomnia

While not an official medical diagnosis, winter insomnia is relatively common, and can affect even those who don’t otherwise suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This is caused by several key factors:

Decreased Daylight

Having a disrupted sleep-wake cycle is one of the most widely spread winter fatigue symptoms. This pesky occurrence is attributed to the changes in melatonin production brought about by having less daylight.

While in theory, darker days mean more melatonin and increased sleepiness, this can actually hurt your body clock. After all, there’s nothing like the temptation to take an afternoon nap on a gloomy winter day, but that could mean you’re wide awake at bedtime.

Changing Clocks

Closely tied with the above, we also have the knock-on effect of daylight savings time (DST) coming to an end in many regions across the globe.

On the surface, that might feel like a gift, allowing you to snooze for an ‘extra’ hour in the morning. But the overall shift in schedule is bound to mess with your internal body clock, adding to your winter fatigue symptoms by making you feel groggy throughout the day while also disrupting your night’s sleep. 

Does Heat or Cold Make You Sleepy?

Fluctuations in temperatures are another core contributor to winter insomnia. You could be struggling to get comfy in bed when the house is freezing, or fighting off discomfort caused by dry air (an unfortunate side-effect of having the heating on).

Perhaps you’re staying bundled up at home instead of getting your regular exercise and daily dose of vitamin D. In any case, just like extreme heat, excessive cold can exacerbate winter fatigue symptoms.

Seasonal Stress

Yes, winter might well be the season to be jolly, but along with all the holiday excitement comes the inevitable stress of the lead-up to Christmas. Winter insomnia can be the byproduct of festive anticipation, rushing around to do holiday shopping and attend Christmas gatherings, or even the holiday treats we indulge in. Plus, the largely inflated December to-do list might well be keeping you up at night.

Find out more about how to sleep before Christmas.

How to Reduce Winter Fatigue Symptoms

There might not be a cure for winter insomnia as such, but there certainly are well-being hacks you can turn to for better sleep during the winter months.  Some easy ways to tackle your winter fatigue symptoms include:

• Getting at least half an hour of natural light (ideally in the morning) and staying active with a crisp walk or some light indoor exercise.

• Keeping an eye on your routine will also go a long way towards helping with winter insomnia.  That includes maintaining your normal sleep regimen (try and resist those tempting afternoon naps), as well as limiting the amount of unhealthy food and drink in your winter diet.

• Setting a comfortable room temperature, whether heat or cold makes you sleepy, experts recommend aiming for a comfortable middle ground temperature – around 67°F.

Prepare For Winter, With Get Laid Beds

Another key element of creating the right sleep environment is investing in a high-quality bed; it can make all the difference in combatting winter insomnia and getting the rest you need during the colder months. Consider investing in a sturdy, stylish wood bed from Get Laid Beds to improve your sleep setup. Our handcrafted designs guarantee comfort, warmth and elegance for your bedroom.

Pairing the perfect bed with the above advice will help you rest better, feel rejuvenated, and enjoy the winter season to the fullest.