1-1-1: it's the season of seasonal depression
read about SO much in this edition of the newsletter. let's talk seasonal depression, finding balance, and why you should never sacrifice your self worth
november, 2023
edition 41.
to follow up on my previous newsletter… balance is hard.
people often dm me and ask how I do it all: content creation, being a masters student, keeping up with a social life, read, etc and here’s the honest truth — I don’t.
balance doesn’t mean giving each part of my life the same weight, it means giving each part of my life the appropriate weight. some weeks I lean more heavily into reading and some weeks I lean more heavily into my social life. unfortunately both can’t exist at once, and right now content creation is on the back burner for me.
my family is coming to london next week !!!! for thanksgiving (just for the food, not the celebration of the really racist holiday…) and I am so so so excited to see them and hang out with them.
last update from me is that I’m hosting a *FREE* morning club session (join via app) on november 15th at 8am PST (1pm BST) so pop by if you’re able! it’ll be 30 minutes and super interactive and I hope to see you there!
this edish of the newsletter is scattered because my brain is scattered but I wanted to show you all that this is my 100% right now. this is my capacity. and something > nothing.
you can expect one email from me every week containing:
one quote that has been inspiring me
one journal prompt
one piece of advice*
* = if you want to submit a question for my upcoming emails, you can find the form here.
podcast
new episode with my flatmate eve! we talk about our move to london and our roommate dynamics — listen to all my past episodes here <3
one quote
“you’re tired. burnt out. exhausted.
this lowers your capacity for emotional regulation.
you’ll cry more easily. get dragged into low moods more easily. simple things where you’re like ‘dang, that shouldn’t hit so hard,’ will wallop you.
this will trick you into thinking you’re weak and can’t handle life. a loser. not so my friend.
it’s a signal you need to nap, need to allow for more sleep at night, need to prioritize and scale back on what you can accomplish in a day, need to take a mental health day or even a leave.
somethings got to give. but it’s not your self worth.”
—resiliencewithin via tumblr
one journal prompt
how have you been priorising yourself lately? can you do more?
one piece of advice
“how can I better cope with seasonal depression? It’s so hard when I leave and come back home from work in the dark!”
listennnn I’m here with ya! this is my first ~true~ winter (los angeles is simply so much further south than london) and the seasonal depression is hitting hard. I’m sitting in my bed at 5:42pm ready to fall asleep because it has been dark for almost two hours already. I don’t want to come from an expert perspective because I am so far from that but here are the things I’ve learned/been taught so far:
plan things for post-dinner/when it’s dark — preferably outside of your house. whether that’s a workout class (so you have that financial incentive not to skip it!), a dinner with friends, drinks at a cool bar (me tomorrow), or just a casual hang out with friends, having a purpose when it’s dark can help you from sleeping too early and from being alone in the dark for too long
look at the sun (especially the times it’s out in all it’s glory) and make an effort to get outside when it’s light out
going off of that, my sister told me that it’s actually better for her own mental health (so take this with a grain of salt) to *not* watch the sun set. I’ve been following her advice on some days and I’ve honestly noticed that it helps: the more I can prolong knowing that it’s dark out, the easier it is for me to feel like a functioning human being at night
be kind to yourself. seasonal depression is real. mental health is real. feeling down because of the early sunsets is real. validate your emotions and remember that you’re doing the best you can with the tools you have
those are the main ones that I’ve heard of/have been helpful to me but pleaseee share any other tips in the comments, especially if you have lived in a place with actual seasons! the cold + the dark + the rain really got to me today :(
reading updates
currently reading: seven days in june by tia williams, babel by r.f. kuang, iron flame by rebecca yarros
finished this week:
n/a :(
if you want to keep up with my reading throughout the week, this is my goodreads :)
enjoyed this edition?
until we meet again,
katie
Living in the country with sharply continental climate with arid summer and icy winter I can relate to this article. Usually when I feel down I listen to upbeat music to hype myself up, also try to remember other good things like hot chocolate with cozy blanket, my family when I come home and food. Seek for beauty in everything, even in colds, darkness or dark mornings.