A good balance between work and leisure time is essential
to a healthy life. There seems to be a chemical explanation
for some of the depression problems that we may have
overlooked. The dimmed natural light of winter signals the
body to increase the production of melatonin. For many of
us who already spend much of our time indoors, the
increased production of this chemical makes it intensify.
In some people this can create a psychological reaction.
Most people maintain their work and social lives at a much
more consistent pace throughout the year than did our
ancestors in their subsistence farming or fishing societies
with their much reduced activity in winter. This problem
has been labeled as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
The IRPP (The Institute for Research in Public Policy
(IRPP.org) an independent,national, non-profit
organization, Founded in 1972, based in Montreal).in a
study released February 1, 2007 revealed that for many
Canadians the so-called "leisure-society," in which
everyone has more free time, is more a myth than a reality.
According to this report, the only winners in the "leisure
society" are retirees and students, while working parents
are the biggest losers.
The IRPP suggests that retirees are one of the winners in
the "leisure society", meaning we have more free time on
our hands. Sounds great doesn't it? Or does it? More free
time with nothing to do will lead to boredom, with all the
accompanying problems, especially during the winter months
in the northern hemisphere.
The primary feature of SAD is a pattern of depression that
occurs with the onset of the winter months. As the days
become shorter, and the weather colder, there is an
increase in depressive symptoms. Individuals eat more,
sleep more, experience chronic fatigue and weight gain.
Some have described SAD as hibernation during the winter
months.
Individuals have varying levels of effects from SAD,
ranging from debilitating to inconvenient. The symptoms
abate once the days become longer and warmer in the Spring.
The hibernation is over for another year.
Those who become depressed in the winter months want to
know what they can do to combat this depression. Because
both biological and physical factors play a role in most
depression, it is difficult to develop an experimental
study that will control relevant variables to produce
definitive answers.
This is still a specific type of clinical depression, and
diagnosis that is made by a physician, psychologist, or
psychiatrist and is based on symptoms and the history of
recurring "winter blues" that goes away in the longer days
of spring.
Consider using hobbies for your retirement free time to
help with the "winter blues". Find yourself a good hobby. A
hobby is a great way to develop skills and even interact
with other people. Some of them will generate an extra
income stream. A hobby builds on itself in a fascinating
way. You start out knowing nothing and gradually build a
set of skills. Even if these skills aren't particularly
useful, the process helps you learn how to learn. Once
you've developed the first set of skills the next set is
even easier.
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