At 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 3, most Canadians will turn their clocks an hour back to end daylight saving time and revert to standard time.
"Fall back" or "ending daylight saving time" (yes, without the "s"), occurs on the first Sunday of November to help North Americans adjust to weather changes. In other words, we're "gaining" an extra hour of much-needed sleep.
Some Canadian cities and provinces, however, don't experience any change at all. The majority of Saskatchewan (except for Lloydminster) and some towns in Alberta and Manitoba, won't have to worry about changing those clocks. Wikipedia has this handy list of towns in Quebec, Nunavut, Ontario and B.C. that don't observe daylight saving time either.
But if the idea of colder weather and putting away all your summer essentials makes you kind of glum, you're not alone. Some studies have shown weather changes can alter our mood and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is especially common this time of year. SAD, or "the winter blues," is characterized by symptoms such as weight gain, change in appetite, fatigue and often a tendency to oversleep.
But don't let the time change dampen your mood, here are six ways to stay energized during fall and winter months:
If you're suddenly feeling down this winter, it could be the result of your body's lack of vitamin D. A study at the University of Newcastle in Australia tested the effects of vitamin D supplements on a group of people in late winter. Turns out, people who received vitamin D had a dramatic improvement in their moods. “The two best ways to get the vitamin D you need are to get adequate sun exposure (15 to 30 minutes per day) or to take vitamin D supplements,” says Dr. John Cuomo of USANA Health Sciences.
The American Heart Association recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise a day and at least three times a week to boost energy levels in the winter.
Some studies have shown that zinc could be a natural option to fight off winter colds. One study from the American Society for Microbiology, found that zinc was able to shorten the average length of the common cold by about 7 days and increase the body's energy levels.
Take a time out — without the kids. According to Dr. David Sack, psychiatrist and CEO of Promises Treatment Centre, taking a ten-minute time out from you day, whether stretching, meditating or just daydreaming, can free your mind and prevent your mind from getting fatigued during cold days.
According to the National Library of Medicine, B vitamins help our bodies make energy from the food we eat. Although most B12 vitamins are found in animals and fish sources, you can also try soy products like soybean or tofu.
According to Cheryl MacDonald of the Health Psychology of San Diego, eating organic carbohydrates will increase cardiac energy in our bodies. Our liver, she adds, is able to process these carbs quicker and help our bodies feel energetic for a longer period of time.