I've had this for years, I know what I need to do to deal with it and I mostly do OK. It does slow down my productivity, so I have to make choices about what to do and when. It's annoying and frustrating. I have full spectrum light bulbs near just about every place I hang out indoors, and my desks both at home and at the office face windows, where I can get what little sunlight there might be.
The problems come in when I let myself get overloaded and overcommitted. If I don't get enough sleep, I am truly toast. And my profession is one that leads to regular bouts of interrupted sleep. I do need to learn when to say no - as well as learning to set my priorities properly.
Thanks for all your concern, and the prayers as well. Today, the sun is shining. I got a reasonable night's sleep on call as the patient of the day had her baby during office hours instead of the more usual wee hours. It was a good birth and baby is doing well, mom and baby will be on their way home soon.
Now I am going to get off the computer and get my house partially cleaned up. I'm thinking of tackling the floors and the stovetop...Maybe that will count as a little exercise.
I'm glad you are feeling better. My boss swears by the light therapy.
Congratulations on the baby coming during the day!
People who work in Northern Canada get isolation pay for good reason. And lots of light therapy.
I was up with the sun (there was sun!) and soaked up as much as I could. Amazing how quickly it weakens this time of year. More moon than sun almost overnight. I think how you are pacing yourself is excellent and cultivating thankfulness along with sleep are good disciplines to cultivate when we get thrown off by seasonal changes.
Thanks for this.
SAD is real.