Moving to a village with shops, library, church, green areas is great for SAD. When you begin to feel low, get out in what light there is. Go to a shop and connect with people. Say hello to people in the street. Put lights on when you go back home and switch on background noise. 🙂
@@StephenJReid : As someone who nowadays lives in Canada, i miss those 3 things... Well, we have a pizza place, but North Americans dont know how to do pizza (despite claiming they do .. lol)
That tantrum with the brambles was funny.. However, the simulated dump made my laugh so hard that I cried a little.. Thank you. Laughing = good for SAD 👍🙂
Living in southern Sweden is much the same, gloomy and miserable. Everybody here feels better if/when we get real winters because the snow makes up a bit for the lack of daylight. But a lot of the time it is just cold, wet and dark, and it wears you down, and for me personally winter is something I just struggle to get through, every year. I'm an avid mountainbiker and the lack of riding during the winter months really makes it obvious how bad I need the endorphines provided from the excersize. All the symptoms you describe are all too familiar. Its a good thing there is nice youtube content like yours to enjoy when feeling down! Keep up the good work!
Interesting! So southern Sweden can have damp winters? Always assuming it was subzero most of the winter there. I have noticed that cyclists often seem to struggle with winter.
@@StephenJReid it is really common that the temperatures goes up and down around zero, making it either wet and sloppy or crazy icy when the slop freezes. This year has been better so far with a lot of snow and pretty cold. We had -20 a few days ago, but +2 today. Snow and cold is nicer, but on the other hand the electricity bill keeps you from laughing when it is cold nowadays.
Hello again Stephen from Auckland , New Zealand . I used to live in a little forestry cottage on the very edge of Davagh forest. This was such a beautiful experience. Getting up at 2 am to see wild deer grazing in the full moon light right outside the cottage is one of many memories . I just want to say your channel is SUPERB. You really have the gift of presenting and connecting.
Winters are rough. Hear in Western Washington in the USA we have very short daylight hours and they are covered in clouds and the lack of sun tends to really affect me. I’ve found the best cure is to force myself out on adventures
Western Oregon here - and same! I just try and remind myself that this is technically a rainforest and all that dreary weather is what supports the gorgeous outdoors that we enjoy during the nice days. I also try to remember that the weather often looks way worse than it really is, once you actually get outside. Stephen: I think you have more than one friend in Washington! We enjoy your content over here in NW USA :)
I think we're prone to SAD (I definitely mildly identify with some of the symptoms) because we're not meant to do All The Things during the winter months. Our bodies know what's up and in winter, when we're supposed to hunkering down like all the other animals, we're still asked to do everything consistently like seasons don't exist - jobs, shift work, school, etc. Factor in social media and all the other modern stresses that can amplify negative feelings, as well the science you talked about in the video, and it's a perfect recipe for SAD.
I think it depends where you live though. People living in places that get sun all year don’t feel the same way. So I don’t think it’s so much that we are meant to slow down in winter but that often we don’t have a choice
@@StephenJReid In places where there are no, or less pronounced, seasonal changes then I guess they only have to contend with the 'normal' stresses of life without the misery of long nights and never-far-away rain. But if we're already accustomed to the seasons then (I think) the choice has already been made for us by our body - which is reading the cues and telling us to get ready to hunker down - but we go against those instincts so that we can do our jobs and all the rest of it. Hence higher rates of SAD and general complaining about the weather! I love a good weather moan as much as the next person 😀.
Completely agree with your diagnosis Stephen. I tell myself every year I will find another activity to participate in during the long, dark winter months that dosen't involve a bike, but as yet haven't. I've just had the worst bad throat I reckon Ive had in my adult life, to the point I could barely open my mouth to put food in so I feel your pain. But today, the sun came out and I forced myself out the door for an hour and a half on the bike. Almost didn't, as I sat on the couch and fell asleep after a session inhaling from a bowl of hot water containing menthol crystals. I agree that our type of cold (damp and miserable) is a big part of the problem, cold and dry is much more bearable. Time stands still for no man, though. Before we know it we will be moaning that it is too hot ha ha! Keep up the good work!
I think it’s good to have a hobby that doesn’t have lots of barriers to getting out there. I find cycling has a lot of prep, right clothes, making sure bike is set up, spares, water bottle etc and making sure it’s not too icy. With running it’s easier to just get out the door. Saying that I’ve just bought an electric gravel bike as a way to ease me into bike training this year without having to go through the period of not enjoying it first
I live in Ontario Canada and I laughed a little bit at your video because when I see videos of people camping in winter in places like your are I think how lucky they are to be able to do that without the need for a hot tent and not have to deal with temps well below 0c. I think most people feel the symptoms of SAD to one degree or another just because of the short days. I don’t think when we get snow it makes it any better considering it looks pretty but makes life more difficult because you have to shovel it and it creates havoc for traffic and gets grey and gross after a short time. I use a little SAD light at my desk at work in the morning and that seems to be helpful. I know people ski in snowy places but that is a rather expensive hobby so most of us just lock ourself inside and plan our summer trips and white knuckle it.
I have a friend who moved from England to Canada, going to see how he compares winter in both locations. I love it when it snows and it stays for days and days, but rarely happens here and I can understand how you’d get fed up with it eventually. Think it got down to about 4C that night I camped. The lowest it would ever really get here would be -10C, but rarely. Usually sits around 5C to -5C over winter. But a lot of wet and windy days
Hi from south of Sweden. We have the same shitty weather which affects us just like you explain. No snow just damp and dark. I February I went out chasing a snow storm. It was such a climax. Rain most of the time. A friend was 20km south of me and texted me: it’s on. Later that night there where som snow flakes which got me excited but in the morning it was raining and snow was gone. In my car home I found the snow (20-25 cm) less than 5 kilometres from where I camped. Anyway I camp the year around which compensates for some of the normal mood. Cheers and thanks for a great video.
I'm originally from Australia, so I'm cold most of the year here on Vancouver Island, Canada. In Summer I'll sometimes wear a singlet under my t-shirts, and when everyone else is complaining about the heat, I'm "bouncing around" wanting to do stuff. It rains a lot here - some people have mentioned it rains as much as the UK.
oh, and laughing helps too for me. - I am always looking for laughter AND I did chuckle quite a bit at this as I watched. been there, had it happen to me several times.
I’ve never had this in Slovakia…I live 10 years in Scotland and I developed the seasonal depression it so spoiled autumn for me as I love autumn but knowing we’re heading to winter is the worst…I blame the luck of light…last year winter we lived in really dark flat in the city and omg it was just so so difficult January through to March we were both feeling just so so low….I’m having hope for this winter as we moved closer to nature and the flat is lighter…but we shall see 🙈
Interesting! Didn’t know all that. And can’t say I’ve experienced SAD. But we live in the high desert in Oregon and get 300 days of sunshine. So even when it’s cold and snowy it always seems inviting to go outside and play. Those are some crazy short days you have! Didn’t realize Ireland was so far north.
Love that too at the end to block time when you’re not videoing! That was one of my biggest fears with starting this channel that it would turn my enjoyment of the outdoors into work.
300 days of sunshine sounds amazing! Yeah we are only 100mi further south than Moscow. But we are very exposed too being an island with nothing between us and North America
I've said it a million times before and I'll say it again. Amazing style of making videos with fantastic content. You need a show of your own on local tv. I admire the time you take for some more serious topics that really do matter, like wellness and taking care of yourself mentally. Fantastic video. Get well soon, and happy new year. Looking forward to the next one! Thanks Stephen
usually kicks in for me around christmas time, still getting out and walking most days but the filming is not happening at the moment and the channel will suffer no doubt. Admire you talking about it openly, tend to keep it to myself and close family.👍
I live in Binevenagh area. For work I have to get up at 5am every morning to travel. Then don't get home till 6pm. I hate the Oct - Dec time. But I find once over Christmas you start to see the stretch in the evenings when leaving work. I also ride motorbikes. And that's my happy place. I ride all winter (when not icy).. Even riding into Portstewart for a coffee does wonders for my mood.... I also take extra vitamin in winter. Magnesium, vit C, zinc, vit D tongue spray.
Until August 2024 I was living in London and am from the south-east UK. I've had depression for a long time and it definitely used to get worse over winter. However.. in 2017 my health started getting really really bad. I discovered I've got a genetic disorder and it turns out the problems it brings have a kind of domino effect, which is so so much worse in summer. Now, I absolutely love winter! I prefer being colder - there are no nice things you can do to cool down but absolutely tons you can do to warm up The last thing I want in summer is to be cuddled! Winter means curling up in front of a fire under a cosy blanket (even better still when you've got a furry friend or few!).
Hi Stephen. Why have I not come across your youtube page before???? .........Glda I have though. Really enjoying your posts. Your sense of humour, your photography and your content is so great. I swam outdoors for 2 consecutive years. Best winters I ever had. Am hoping to get back into it during the next year xxxLiz x
Top advice Stephen, reinforcing what our bodies and minds tell us, but many choose to ignore. The last part for me as a content creator was especially true. I enjoyed my last camp, but every spare moment I was videoing. Watching it back afterwards I thought, wow , look at that sunset! But at the time, I didn't take time to appreciate it. Well done you.
As a nordic subscriber ( considering Russia as nordic country ) we practice buddhism so feel wonderful any season with no SAD symptoms 😉 Warm regards from frozen Moscow 🙌👌
I'm in the southern UK and was diagnosed with SAD 17 years ago having suffered from it for decades. Daylight lamps and particularly a sunrise alarm clock helped but what's really sorted it is retirement and letting my body just go with what it wants to do. The depression is definitely a result of forcing yourself to get up in the dark, not getting enough (9-10 hours) sleep and generally trying to live like it's Summer all year. The upside is, in the Summer I can manage on 5 hours sleep a night and get SO much done :)
It’s one of the most important and unexpected lessons I’ve learned since I started making outdoors videos. You can resent things you love doing if they just become work
Great video Stephen. I’m really struggling with this at the moment. I’ve been desperate to hike and camp for a month but the weather has been awful with the rain. Once it stopped a week ago I couldn’t wait to get out. Packed all my gear, laid my clothes out and for the past 7 days I’ve woken up everyday by my alarm to go and just couldn’t get up and go 🫤. I post YT weekly normally and haven’t posted for 5-6 weeks. Haven’t hiked since end of November and just spending my days sleeping as zero motivation. Really great to hear about this and at least put some understand behind how I’m feeling as constantly beating myself up letting myself down and my followers. I’ve even ignored messages and social media completely. Need to turn this all around. I’m in Manchester UK btw. Really need to push myself and get out and hike as know going once it’ll change me and I’ll be alright again. Just hard to get started again.
@@StephenJReid Thanks for that and will do. Supposed to be out this weekend on a hike and camp with my gf. She’ll make sure we get out but hard to even get my mind into planning where to go. But as long as I get out I’m sure it’ll help. Thanks.
Hiya Stephen. I live in L/Derry, so not so far from yourself I am sure. I get up 5-6 days per week @5:30 and go to the gym and I have found that during this time I suffer much less with SAD. I believe this has an affect on my circadian rhythm and makes me less reliant on sunlight as well as my body producing additional hormones during the winter. I also find it difficult to sit down and do nothing so this time of the year, especially in N. Ireland, is just a challenge to me. You can always find something to do and there is beauty everywhere in this country no matter what the weather so I find I spend time during the week planning one or two weekend outings, a hike, drive, camp whatever but I have found this means I'm not locked down and don't suffer anywhere near as much as I used to with SAD and Cabin fever. What I am sure we both know as do people who regularly exercise, is that the exercise gives you much more energy and I believe that helps you push through the normal symptoms of SAD..... Keep up the good work and I hope someday to bump into you on the trail....
That’s commitment! I don’t sleep well and hate getting up early in general so I’ve never managed to get into an early exercise habit like that. Makes sense that it will kick start everything early each day. Definitely important to keep moving. Thanks for the comment!
Hi Stephen, watching your videos mostly from South of Italy. And although one would think, perfect place to live and enjoy the sunshine, the winters get quiet wet and windy. So I would enjoy more, if i´d have a winter with proper snow, even if it would mean less daylight. My biorhythm is already setup so it doesn´t matter if summer or winter i´m up before 7am with the same energy. I do prefer autumn to spring seasons than summer, but yeah, I can get a bit of down feeling in winter if i can´t go out. great video as always 🙂✌
I used to live in the UK, on a farm, so I remember the weeks and weeks of fog and rain and damp. (so much like home - NZ) I didn't get S.A.D so much possibly because I was working outside all day, every day. It was pretty miserable though. Flash forward 30+ years and now I live on Crete. Winter arrived yesterday - 12 degrees and raining, so no running for me. According to the forecast ,winter will last for a week and then it will go back to being 20 degrees and sunny. Just like last year. (This is NOT normal for Crete!) So one way of beating S.A.D is to come to Crete in winter. If you can work remotely this is not a bad place to do it. I think one of the best ways to defeat S.A.D, (as you probably know) if you can't get away, is attitude. Don't look at the weather as wet and miserable, look at it as prime puddle jumping weather, and go out and jump in puddles like an 8 year old. Get your mates to go with you, and then head for the pub and laugh about all the puddles you jumped in. The year before I left NZ I did an ultra that had the distance cut short because of really, really bad weather. i.e. on the hilltops survivability was not guaranteed. It was a pretty marginal call as to whether the race should have been run at all. It was freezing cold, raining with gale force+ winds. The small streams that you could rock hop across were now up to my waist. Some people had a terrible time. They complained, threatened repercussions to the race director etc. Me, and those like me, had a great day out. I walked up a long, steep muddy track, made it to the top only to be hit by wind strong enough to get me airborne and blow me back down to the bottom again. (It didn't. But it was a near thing) One of my fondest memories is running with people across a windswept hilltop towards the middle of the race. We were all soaked, freezing and tired. instead of just running across and trying to get to shelter as fast as possible were were jumping in puddles and giggle like children. It was a crazy day and we just embraced the crazy and had a fun time. And that's one good way to beat S.A.D - embrace the crazy and just go out and have a giggle. ;-)
I like to think that emotions are something that happen to you. But you have a choice with what attitude to approach things or look at the world. That attitude can then loop back around into the emotion you get back. So if you see rain and take the attitude that it’s horrible, you’ll not get positive emotions back when you go out in in. Decide to see the rain as a challenge and the emotion that comes back might well be delight.
Thanks, kept the colours simple with this, not too many tweaks. But it's my best camera I used, Sony A7siii. Amazing bit of kit, use for it for my commercial work
the only way i can survive the northern ireland winter is to take myself off to lanzarote every january and top up on sunlight and heat. the cold, wet, dark and miserable days of winter would finish me off otherwise. i find in the sun my mood, diet and lifestyle all improve massively. The cheap booze helps too.
How warm is it there in winter? I’ve never gone on a sun holiday, don’t like too much heat either. It did used to be prescribed by doctors as treatment for persistence sickness, so maybe something in it
100% get a SAD light (for in the morning, or dull days) and also get a dawn simulator for an alarm. I struggle when it’s dull and these make a huge difference.
@@StephenJReid I personally don't suffer with it but my girlfriend does massively. She has lost both a sibling and a grandparent round Christmas time during her life and with the on set of winter and SAD season you can see it consuming her each year. For us we try to cold water swim and adventure. Geocaching is a good way to get out and explore.
@@stephenbailie2086 that's really tough. I've noticed it in a relative for a similar reason, Christmas always reminds them of the loss. Geocaching is fun! I keep meaning to make a video about it. Great way to get non-outdoorsy people outside
SAD aswell on top of mental health issues. Suffered for around 20 years but last 10 years not so bad thank God. Fair play for discussing the issue. Great video, love watching ❤❤
@@StephenJReid My first hike in over 30 years back in September gave a great boost, really opened me up and hope to get out again. My only obstacle is I've no car and depend on buses which is not pleasant.
Great video but really loved the outdoor poo toilet section because that is just how it is (three times experienced wildcamper/hiker emegency pooer here} when you have to go you have to go lol
A few nights previous to that we were bailing from a storm up hares gap at 11pm 😂, then you get a perfect night for a camp 🎉 . Just shows you how the mournes weather can change dramatically over a few days .
@@StephenJReid A few hours rain in the mournes means a torrent of water 😂😂. Lesson learned to look a bit closer at the forecast . All good experience though :-)
This is exactly why I do RED JANUARY Stephen. The habit of getting out without having to think or plan it really helps lift me up during the month. It’s become my best habit especially when coupled with camping, I like to look at it like this. Make the most of the light and rest and recharge in the dark ❤such an excellent video, Thank you, BW, Sarah
@@StephenJReid Run Every Day…RED…absolutely brilliant. I am ON IT 🤩 gets me out even at 5am before a day shift and inbetween nights, folk think I’m mad but it’s the best, I’m buzzin
We definitely dip out at this time of year in our neck of the woods. As soon as the dark evenings kick in it’s in our DNA, doors and curtains closed, we forget there’s life out there post 1900! I bought a SAD light years ago, great job and would highly recommend one as long as it’s put to good use as it’ll definitely help with the circadian rhythm, the trick is not to get out of the normal routine and slip into duvet mode. To be fair I’ve not used mine enough but now the days are on the turn again it’s getting easier. I dream of retiring in Scottsdale 😂
Hi Stephen, my humble opinion is these conditions didn't start to people began staring into the black mirror every minute of the day, it's not the weather it's us!...great video mate btw
I don't know what it is, but this winter I've had the worst SAD since 2015 (been getting this bastard condition ever since I was 17. I'm 57 this year). This video just cheered me up loads. Thanks Stephen!
Usually winter used to be my favorite season (people always told me that I was crazy because the cold made me so happy and I really came to life when the season started) but it's is changing more and more into a soaking wet season here in the Netherlands. This week we had the first temperatures below freezing this season 😔. That used to be by the end of october/beginning of november. I noticed that I like winter less and less. It has been raining without an end and I start really feeling down. I could do 3 hikes since the end of October 😭. More and more trails are being closed because of floodings. I really, really hope with my whole ❤ that spring comes early this year. I am done with it, also being sick for the 2nd time within a month. I do try to fill the evenings with planning my trips for 2024 and searching for new gear that I would love to have this year. At least that brings a bit of brightness.
Interesting! That does fit with my theory that wet weather is worse for it than cold dry weather. There’s just something miserable about day after day of rain. Hope you find a way to enjoy it
Thanks Stephen, great advice and a real boost with a problem shared 🙏 I'm a keen mountain biker and luckily have a couple friends that are too and we have kitted ourselves out with some super bright bike lights and made a pact that unless weather is dangerous then we'll night ride at least once a week through the dark months and I can honestly say it's helped enormously. It's still a challenge to leave the house when it's dark, damp & cold but I/we have 'never' got back from a ride and said we wish we hadn't been out, quite the opposite, we come back with a real buzz and remembering that helps the next time.. I've even made a recent video while on a ride which gave me more to focus on. Thanks again for sharing your journey.. Happy New Year !
I think part of it is not stopping being active in the first place. Usually I stop regularly running in October but I’ve kept at it all year and noticed that has helped a lot too
Stunning video. Great discussion of a topic which could be difficult to convey, but was done in a very objective, informative and upbeat way. Well done, Sir! 🎉👍🤩
This horrible, raining for days on end, dark winter where I have had to have the lights on during the day and watching and listening to you describing the syptoms of SAD make me think I may have it too - but not the feeling down bit. Another well though out and executed video, laughed out losd over the leave no trace - that could easily go viral! Thank you and Happy New Year :)
Affects different people in different ways and not everyone will get the same symptoms but I think most people will be affected in some way over winter. Published the Leave No Trace vid as a reel on IG, got over 11k views 🤣
I live in Australia and although this may sound strange, I very much get summer SAD, As someone who likes to be highly active in the outdoors but hates the heat, it can be an absolute misery here as temperatures reach the high 30C’s with high humidity, high risk of fires and all our famous deadly snakes like to come say hi, So I dont think it’s all linked to sunlight, I certainly think there is an amount of not being able to do the things you really enjoy and being physically limited from your preferred baseline. I absolutely thrive in our winters (although they arnt to far off of your summers haha) Great little video as always :)
Interesting! This does make sense though, when we (rarely) get a heatwave I end up not sleeping for days on end and end up feeling exhausted all the time as a result. Apparently the average winter temp in Australia is 15-26C. That’s a good summer here! 😂 we are lucky if it goes over 20C in summer
Wow! Amazing video. I 😂😢😊. Then I watched your video again on my SECOND channel because I thought it was worth TWO 👍🏻 thumbs up! Brilliant! And yes I get S.A.D. In Louisiana USA (I think it’s the ratio of sun/gloomies one is used to getting.). I also observe the lighter eyed people in my family suffer more than the dark. 🤷🏼♀️
Oh wow thanks very much! That’s really interesting actually, about usual ratios. So maybe people who live in places with highly variable climates might suffer the most. You’re further south than Spain so I wasn’t expecting it would be a thing there. So is it really sunny all the time in summer and then cloudy all winter?
That bramble deserved all it got! Lol Generally speaking I would normally say I actually enjoy our winters here, definitely more so that when you do get those rare heatwaves in the super and I would put down my low mood in the autumn and winter to the changes in my work that those seasons bring. Saying that, once you started listing the symptoms I started having second thoughts, though work I think is still the major reason though perhaps it's not as clear cut as I would have thought.
yeah I'm so conflicted with winter. I LOVE crisp cold calm days with the low sun. it's more beautiful than summer. and I hate heatwave nights trying to sleep. I guess that keeps you grateful though! yeah work is a HUGE factor. I was the most miserable in winter 2022/2023 because of a bad work situation.
Thanks for sharing this video Stephen. Very informative and of course it really does help to talk about this issue. We think SAD particularly affects us outdoorsy people, less light or less good weather means less time to do the things we enjoy. You gave some good advice and of course a good dose of humour that really made us laugh particularly getting caught up with the bramble and demonstrating what to do ‘in the woods’😂. Even with a cold. looking forward to the next one.
New watcher, just stumbled upon your videos, great format and fascinating content, something a bit different and certainly a stand out from the rest, I have to admit that I have never seen a re-enactment of an "unwanted delivery" this was a total stand out moment for me and had me in piss stitches and will go a long way to cheering people up with SAD, it was going along so interestingly at 60fps then boom "Dusk till dawn" happens. Binge time, Cin cin
I love the winter it's my happiest time. No people . Tick More darkness. Tick No overheating. Tick No flying bugs. Tick Peace and quiet. Tick Cold crisp mornings. Tick More challenging. Tick More difficult. Tick I am happiest in winter, really don't like the summer much.
@@TacBlades interesting! Do you not find the damp weather gets you down? What’s your secret? I’m really curious now. Trying to change my attitude towards the cold and damp weather but it’s not easy!
@@StephenJReid it's just a state of mind and preference if you like camping with others and hot sun then the winter will never be great. But if you really love solitude then winter is fantastic. The wet is not a problem, but torrential for weeks is not good tho. If your cold you can always get warm, but if it's too hot it's not easy to cool down. I sleep better in cold weather. I do enjoy all the gear you need for cold too more fun.
@@brewsterkits it almost never gets that hot here. I think the hottest we had last year was 27. It’s also windy a lot which makes it feel colder. I do hate heatwave nights though. I can’t sleep in hot weather. Awful
Really interesting video Stephen and I fully agree. My issue is the opposite, I’m at my best during autumn / winter. During the summer months I tend to be sluggish, more tired and generally not to social. The cold comes around Oct through to March I come to life. I cycle commute a 22 mile round trip to work which I love in the colder dark months but ‘put up with’ the rest of the time. I tend to be fitter and healthier during the dark cold months. I’m in Merseyside so only a spit away from yourself.
Totally Stephen, noticed that in the last few days I’ve been a bit more active wanting to go on treadmill or out for a run and now you mention it, seems to have coincided with the nice spell of weather we’ve been having here in NI 😮 been really struggling since November to get out for a run or treadmill even once a week. (I usually run 3-4 days a week)
Thanks Stephen for making this video. I too get hit with the SADs this time of year. I fear my backpack is gathering a small army dust bunnies under the bed. But you have reminded me to say “duck” it to the weather and just dawn a jacket and tip on. Keep up the great stuff. Oh and a happy new year, I'm looking forward to your 2024 content 😁
Being on the Wet Windy West Coast of Scotland the weather is crap ice and rain. It’s no wonder I suffer from SAD but it fits in nicely with my myalgic encephalomyelitis , Pulmonary Sarcoidosis and slight OCD. I find the clocks changing in autumn it a real trigger for it and like you I just don’t want to get up out of bed in the dark ( thankfully neither do my animals). I thought about a light box but never really have time to sit beside one. The thing I do find helps is diet. I stick to an anti inflammatory diet which means no IPFs. I have also been working up to starting Cold Water Exposure which folk maintain helps too. Anyway your videos always cheer me up 😀
Oh yikes that’s rough! Nasty combo. Are you able to get out much? I have family with ME and was always made worse being cooped up inside too much. What’s your favourite meal these days?
It mostly cycling I do riad and gravel. I find it helps a lot I was doing loads of century rides 2022(plus’s a double century on the smart trainer) and was at my fittest. Unfortunately 2023 was a disaster as after the death of the father in naw the other half was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given 6 to 12 months then they decided to give him palatine treatment so life was up in the air. Anyway the decline in my physical health has been marked as I went from cycling 5000 miles a year to about 500. Anyway this year I am going to try and do more. As for meals I’m pescatarian and my favourite is sheet pan salmon with sweet potatoes , broccoli and feta though it’s a toss up with that and Moroccan Prawn rice.
true for me yes. SADD according to my Doctor. I live in Minnesota USA. I have special bulbs in my lamps at home and at work when I wasn't retired that helped. But usually just making myself get outside and do something helps a lot. Which sometimes seems to be soooo hard, especially on the days you describe. Thanks for sharing.
What’s the weather like in Minnesota over winter? Imagine it’s very cold and snowy. Or is it damp and miserable? Always curious if different weather makes a difference.
@@StephenJReidtemps are colder on average than Ireland in the winter. 32/0 and under on most winter days (November to March) to extremes of as much as -10/-23 or -15/-26 below Fahrenheit/Centigrade for several days at a time. We get an average of 47 inches of snow per year. The thing where I live is the sun does not show its face much from November to March. It is usually overcast even without it snowing. We have about 53% on average of cloudy days per year (195) and the majority of those do seem to take place in our winter time. On sunny days, it is awesome to get out but since that is not the norm forcing myself has to take place. So not working (because retired) I have no real demand to "have to" do something. So mental gymnastics are greater than when I was working, however, knowing what I know I plan things to get me out of bed, to meet a friend, etc. Like everything you said, it just seems that the lack of bright sunny days is something I know I will need to "battle" and so I do. Family and friends do notice and are/have always been a huge help once they understood😁
Yeah that sounds quite a bit colder than here. And agree about if you get used to not going out, even the sunny days sometimes don’t tempt you. Great you have friends and family around though! Sadly not everyone has that
Yes saw you head down scooting about on your bike with the Lurgy,Sat Born2run… I go to gym and run in am when I can to get out… oh and retail therapy in the sales helps m😂!!
Haha yeah I was not feeling good on Sat, summoned willpower for filming the race and then went home and slept all day. Retail therapy always good for a bit of dopamine. I bought that bike! 🙈
Where do I live ,….. hmmmm…..well that’s hard to say, some times it’s Virginia, North and south Carolina , some times Florida and some times the Bahamas. I think the amount of light you get has an effect on your mood.
Happy New year Stephen, really enjoyed the vlog. Thanks for sharing your experiences, it's hard to get back into the swing of things, I know where you are coming from. I'm looking forward to getting back out posting again soon thanks for the boost. Happy hiking.
Brilliant video and brilliant timing. I really do suffer in winter with most of the symptoms you described. Low mood, lethargy, etc. Top advice about making the most of any good days. I'm not quite as scientifically advanced as you, but I'm constantly checking the weather on the run up to my days off lol Any hint of sunshine and I'm up and out at sunrise to make the most of every minute. Many many thanks for sharing this video Stephen, it has improved my mood no end 😁👍⭐☀🕶
Thank Ivan, glad it’s helped! Yeah you definitely have to be proactive in looking out for those good days. But pushing yourself out the door on the mediocre days too sometimes 🙂
Living in Belgium, this all sounds very familiar. I force myself to keep up my running schedule (3x per week) through any weather and even in the dark. Afterwards usually an icecold shower. Both are supposed to increase dopamine levels, and I do believe it helps. Additionally, I'm in the fortunate position that I can usually take a holiday in Dec/Jan (Christmas-NY) or in March (Easter). Fly to someplace warmer & sunnier for a week or so (basically south), it's unbelievable how much effect it has on my mental state, but unfortunately this feeling only lasts for 2-3 weeks.
Oh, I also bought a light therapy lamp this winter. It's a super bright lamp that you put right in front of your face in the morning (I always did this during breakfast). Not sure if there is any proof that it works, but I believe that there is an effect. It is like a fake sunrise for your brain while it is grey and dark outside.
You could try hibernating 😉 Thats what I do, sleep longer, get up during daylight mostly. Tend to eat more and put on a couple of kilos, but then when summer comes burn it off again cause I'm a lot more active 😁
Another great video, how did you make it fun to talk about SAD? All good advice, and that's a professional opinion. Getting out during breaks in the weather is really important. I also find indoor cycling provides both exercise and social interaction which are great for mental and physical health. PS: not sure using a tarp as a green screen worked very well :)
Happy New Year Chris! Is it too late to confess I added an extra layer of crackly wood burning sound effect as my mic didn't pick up the fire as much as I wanted? 😁
❤ Canada 🍁 Yes, for sure. S.A.D or whatever youd like to call it. The end of one cycle and the beginning of another. I have to laugh at you getting frustrated at the brambles and yelling at them 🤣 😅 💎 Very Relateable on those tough grey, cold and wet adventures. But much like the seasons. For a time wanting to rest and recoup. After a few weeks of living in darkness a flip occurs and a new dawn begins. My Soul's internal fire begins to shine brighter. If stuck indoors, I find pleasure in doing creative indoor activities such as pottery, drawing, painting, woodburning or woodcarving. Get Creative! 🎨 ❤ As the sun begins to return in the new year I feel an extra catalyst to my being 💛⚡🌞 Getting outside on a sunny winter day after days of grey cloudy snowstorms & whistling winds. The snow sparkles, life is still & frozen. Nose running, cheeks cold but Soul ablaze with a reborn sense of adventure. ❄ 💙 🥶 Get Outdoors! 💚 🌲
@@StephenJReid my husband drinks it every day, I’m on and off with it. Prefer real food but it’s good on shift when I’m too busy to look after myself properly! HUEL are missing a trick mate 🙌🏻🙏🏻
Great video again and despite the medical disclaimer you raising the issues around SAD may just make someone else think ‘that’s how I feel maybe I should seek some help’ . What make is the chest pack you’re using? Thanks
I have w.a.d (weather affected disorder) it happens to me randomly throughout the year... 😂 grey skies eff my head up... I think im getting the better of it now though as i get older. I think its because i caj choose wether or not i go out i it. A side effect of being an infantry soldier, im told.
@@bjornaronsson7596 looking out of the window in the morning, used to have my heart beating. I'd be like, " not grey, please not grey." If it's sunny, I'm usually the happiest guy in the room, but if it's grey or raining I didn't even want to leave my room. Hard to earn a living like that. Writing it out, it seems trivial... but it was, and sometimes, is still a problem. Again, thankfully, hiking and camping and getting old seems to be helping me get over it. Onwards and upwards I guess.
Interesting! Do you think that’s from memories of long days of misery out tabbing in bleak locations? So you see dull weather and that feeling comes back?
Yep, never moaned about it at the time, but as soon as I got out I swore to myself I wouldn't put myself into it again, but it (wad) ended becoming a thing. I moved to Essex, and joined a rowing club. I only rowed in fair weather despite making the race team. I garnered a reputation for being soft. Didn't really speak of my thing to anyone. Last year, my friends son died bodging a tiktok challenge. Feeling like I should do something for his foundation I pledged to walk lejog. I have since been doing my best to suck it up and get back on the horse. I went back to Wales and did the horseshoe, failed the south downs way due to injury and had quite a few weekend excursions back at dartmoor. Like I say, I think I might be getting over it, I try to find the beauty in the atmosphere that grey clouds make, especially on the mountains. It can be quite epic. Anyway I'm hoping that by next summer the latest, I can finally have a crack at the big one.
what i do is remember the summer is coming, probably, 😂 here in the north you can never tell (joke) so when your in the dark keep yer chin up and look for the sun, sometimes you can see it in someone else's face 😊✊🏻🏴
Homo sapiens was selectively bred over millions of years to hunt and gather mainly during the summer and to hunker down in winter. It is a big part of the human condition. In short, it is normal. Similarly, the food experts are saying something similar, in a way, about ultra processed food. The human gut is not adapted to it. I remember skiing in the Alps where there was talk of depression in the very dark, oppressive mountain environment. On a wet Sunday afternoon in the winter I cook a big tasty stew or curry. Listen to music. Helps.
Stephen, what is the brand of chest pocket you are wearing in this video? I've something similar from OMM for maps/gloves/gels etc, but wondered what you one was like.
Brilliant video, I think this winter has been particularly bad because it’s been so wet. I’m trying to get out as much as possible, take my nutty Labrador with me so not alone…… yep, embrace the darkness 😂😂
Yeah the damp is the worst. Having a dog must definitely help! The closest thing I have to a pet is the neighbours cat which keeps sneaking into the house and I think it prefers the indoors 😂
Moving to a village with shops, library, church, green areas is great for SAD. When you begin to feel low, get out in what light there is. Go to a shop and connect with people. Say hello to people in the street. Put lights on when you go back home and switch on background noise. 🙂
Also a chip shop, Chinese takeaway & pizza place helps 😁
@@StephenJReid : As someone who nowadays lives in Canada, i miss those 3 things... Well, we have a pizza place, but North Americans dont know how to do pizza (despite claiming they do .. lol)
That tantrum with the brambles was funny.. However, the simulated dump made my laugh so hard that I cried a little.. Thank you.
Laughing = good for SAD 👍🙂
😁 you’re welcome
Living in southern Sweden is much the same, gloomy and miserable. Everybody here feels better if/when we get real winters because the snow makes up a bit for the lack of daylight. But a lot of the time it is just cold, wet and dark, and it wears you down, and for me personally winter is something I just struggle to get through, every year. I'm an avid mountainbiker and the lack of riding during the winter months really makes it obvious how bad I need the endorphines provided from the excersize. All the symptoms you describe are all too familiar. Its a good thing there is nice youtube content like yours to enjoy when feeling down! Keep up the good work!
Interesting! So southern Sweden can have damp winters? Always assuming it was subzero most of the winter there. I have noticed that cyclists often seem to struggle with winter.
@@StephenJReid it is really common that the temperatures goes up and down around zero, making it either wet and sloppy or crazy icy when the slop freezes. This year has been better so far with a lot of snow and pretty cold. We had -20 a few days ago, but +2 today. Snow and cold is nicer, but on the other hand the electricity bill keeps you from laughing when it is cold nowadays.
Yeah increased heating bills are not fun in winter 😬
Hello again Stephen from Auckland , New Zealand . I used to live in a little forestry cottage on the very edge of Davagh forest. This was such a beautiful experience. Getting up at 2 am to see wild deer grazing in the full moon light right outside the cottage is one of many memories .
I just want to say your channel is SUPERB. You really have the gift of presenting and connecting.
You have no idea how accurately you timed this post as I lay down on the sofa and opened RUclips
😂 According to the analytics most of my viewers are online from 7pm so published at 6:30pm so it was ready to go
Winters are rough. Hear in Western Washington in the USA we have very short daylight hours and they are covered in clouds and the lack of sun tends to really affect me.
I’ve found the best cure is to force myself out on adventures
Good to keep moving! I have a friend in Washington
Western Oregon here - and same! I just try and remind myself that this is technically a rainforest and all that dreary weather is what supports the gorgeous outdoors that we enjoy during the nice days. I also try to remember that the weather often looks way worse than it really is, once you actually get outside. Stephen: I think you have more than one friend in Washington! We enjoy your content over here in NW USA :)
I think we're prone to SAD (I definitely mildly identify with some of the symptoms) because we're not meant to do All The Things during the winter months. Our bodies know what's up and in winter, when we're supposed to hunkering down like all the other animals, we're still asked to do everything consistently like seasons don't exist - jobs, shift work, school, etc. Factor in social media and all the other modern stresses that can amplify negative feelings, as well the science you talked about in the video, and it's a perfect recipe for SAD.
I think it depends where you live though. People living in places that get sun all year don’t feel the same way. So I don’t think it’s so much that we are meant to slow down in winter but that often we don’t have a choice
@@StephenJReid In places where there are no, or less pronounced, seasonal changes then I guess they only have to contend with the 'normal' stresses of life without the misery of long nights and never-far-away rain. But if we're already accustomed to the seasons then (I think) the choice has already been made for us by our body - which is reading the cues and telling us to get ready to hunker down - but we go against those instincts so that we can do our jobs and all the rest of it. Hence higher rates of SAD and general complaining about the weather! I love a good weather moan as much as the next person 😀.
@@thomasbjohnston it’s part of our national identity at this stage!
Craving food fits in well with this theory. Your body wants a thicker insulation layer for hunkering down.
Well naturally humans are more of a tropical/subtropical species also
Completely agree with your diagnosis Stephen. I tell myself every year I will find another activity to participate in during the long, dark winter months that dosen't involve a bike, but as yet haven't. I've just had the worst bad throat I reckon Ive had in my adult life, to the point I could barely open my mouth to put food in so I feel your pain. But today, the sun came out and I forced myself out the door for an hour and a half on the bike. Almost didn't, as I sat on the couch and fell asleep after a session inhaling from a bowl of hot water containing menthol crystals. I agree that our type of cold (damp and miserable) is a big part of the problem, cold and dry is much more bearable. Time stands still for no man, though. Before we know it we will be moaning that it is too hot ha ha! Keep up the good work!
I think it’s good to have a hobby that doesn’t have lots of barriers to getting out there. I find cycling has a lot of prep, right clothes, making sure bike is set up, spares, water bottle etc and making sure it’s not too icy.
With running it’s easier to just get out the door.
Saying that I’ve just bought an electric gravel bike as a way to ease me into bike training this year without having to go through the period of not enjoying it first
I live in Ontario Canada and I laughed a little bit at your video because when I see videos of people camping in winter in places like your are I think how lucky they are to be able to do that without the need for a hot tent and not have to deal with temps well below 0c. I think most people feel the symptoms of SAD to one degree or another just because of the short days. I don’t think when we get snow it makes it any better considering it looks pretty but makes life more difficult because you have to shovel it and it creates havoc for traffic and gets grey and gross after a short time. I use a little SAD light at my desk at work in the morning and that seems to be helpful. I know people ski in snowy places but that is a rather expensive hobby so most of us just lock ourself inside and plan our summer trips and white knuckle it.
I have a friend who moved from England to Canada, going to see how he compares winter in both locations.
I love it when it snows and it stays for days and days, but rarely happens here and I can understand how you’d get fed up with it eventually.
Think it got down to about 4C that night I camped. The lowest it would ever really get here would be -10C, but rarely. Usually sits around 5C to -5C over winter. But a lot of wet and windy days
I still miss the Robins and their song. Blessings to all from Auckland, New Zealand.
Hi from south of Sweden. We have the same shitty weather which affects us just like you explain. No snow just damp and dark. I February I went out chasing a snow storm. It was such a climax. Rain most of the time. A friend was 20km south of me and texted me: it’s on. Later that night there where som snow flakes which got me excited but in the morning it was raining and snow was gone. In my car home I found the snow (20-25 cm) less than 5 kilometres from where I camped. Anyway I camp the year around which compensates for some of the normal mood. Cheers and thanks for a great video.
I'm originally from Australia, so I'm cold most of the year here on Vancouver Island, Canada. In Summer I'll sometimes wear a singlet under my t-shirts, and when everyone else is complaining about the heat, I'm "bouncing around" wanting to do stuff. It rains a lot here - some people have mentioned it rains as much as the UK.
oh, and laughing helps too for me. - I am always looking for laughter AND I did chuckle quite a bit at this as I watched. been there, had it happen to me several times.
Laughter is definitely the best medicine.
Well unless you need an appendectomy
I’ve never had this in Slovakia…I live 10 years in Scotland and I developed the seasonal depression it so spoiled autumn for me as I love autumn but knowing we’re heading to winter is the worst…I blame the luck of light…last year winter we lived in really dark flat in the city and omg it was just so so difficult January through to March we were both feeling just so so low….I’m having hope for this winter as we moved closer to nature and the flat is lighter…but we shall see 🙈
Interesting! Didn’t know all that. And can’t say I’ve experienced SAD. But we live in the high desert in Oregon and get 300 days of sunshine. So even when it’s cold and snowy it always seems inviting to go outside and play. Those are some crazy short days you have! Didn’t realize Ireland was so far north.
Love that too at the end to block time when you’re not videoing! That was one of my biggest fears with starting this channel that it would turn my enjoyment of the outdoors into work.
300 days of sunshine sounds amazing! Yeah we are only 100mi further south than Moscow. But we are very exposed too being an island with nothing between us and North America
I've said it a million times before and I'll say it again. Amazing style of making videos with fantastic content. You need a show of your own on local tv. I admire the time you take for some more serious topics that really do matter, like wellness and taking care of yourself mentally. Fantastic video. Get well soon, and happy new year. Looking forward to the next one! Thanks Stephen
Thanks Colin, Happy New Year! 🙂
Great post .Agreed.
usually kicks in for me around christmas time, still getting out and walking most days but the filming is not happening at the moment and the channel will suffer no doubt. Admire you talking about it openly, tend to keep it to myself and close family.👍
Been previous years for me were it's mean content has taken a bit hit. It happens. I think it's important to even just recognise it for what it is.
I live in Binevenagh area. For work I have to get up at 5am every morning to travel. Then don't get home till 6pm. I hate the Oct - Dec time. But I find once over Christmas you start to see the stretch in the evenings when leaving work. I also ride motorbikes. And that's my happy place. I ride all winter (when not icy).. Even riding into Portstewart for a coffee does wonders for my mood.... I also take extra vitamin in winter. Magnesium, vit C, zinc, vit D tongue spray.
That’s a long day in winter! Yeah I’m very glad to see sunset shifting back every day. Nearly at 4:30pm now.
I live in Malta, and cannot complain about our winter altough I prefer summer 😊. But my problem is lack of sunlight . Good video
So the secret is to move south for the winter like the birds! 😁
Until August 2024 I was living in London and am from the south-east UK.
I've had depression for a long time and it definitely used to get worse over winter. However.. in 2017 my health started getting really really bad. I discovered I've got a genetic disorder and it turns out the problems it brings have a kind of domino effect, which is so so much worse in summer.
Now, I absolutely love winter! I prefer being colder - there are no nice things you can do to cool down but absolutely tons you can do to warm up The last thing I want in summer is to be cuddled! Winter means curling up in front of a fire under a cosy blanket (even better still when you've got a furry friend or few!).
Hi Stephen. Why have I not come across your youtube page before???? .........Glda I have though. Really enjoying your posts. Your sense of humour, your photography and your content is so great. I swam outdoors for 2 consecutive years. Best winters I ever had. Am hoping to get back into it during the next year xxxLiz x
Top advice Stephen, reinforcing what our bodies and minds tell us, but many choose to ignore. The last part for me as a content creator was especially true. I enjoyed my last camp, but every spare moment I was videoing. Watching it back afterwards I thought, wow , look at that sunset! But at the time, I didn't take time to appreciate it. Well done you.
Thanks Dave!
As a nordic subscriber ( considering Russia as nordic country ) we practice buddhism so feel wonderful any season with no SAD symptoms 😉
Warm regards from frozen Moscow 🙌👌
Moscow isn’t too much further north than where I live but definitely a lot colder!
Now I’m off to google statistics about Buddhism & depression 😂
I really get this on top of my already spicy brain. I bought a SAD lamp and pop a vitamin D now and then and it helps a lot.
I’ve been trying the bit D, not sure how much it’s helped this year but might get a lamp
I'm in the southern UK and was diagnosed with SAD 17 years ago having suffered from it for decades. Daylight lamps and particularly a sunrise alarm clock helped but what's really sorted it is retirement and letting my body just go with what it wants to do. The depression is definitely a result of forcing yourself to get up in the dark, not getting enough (9-10 hours) sleep and generally trying to live like it's Summer all year. The upside is, in the Summer I can manage on 5 hours sleep a night and get SO much done :)
Thanks for the tip on being intentional about when to not video. Will be incorporating that into my trips for sure moving forward.
It’s one of the most important and unexpected lessons I’ve learned since I started making outdoors videos. You can resent things you love doing if they just become work
Great video Stephen. I’m really struggling with this at the moment. I’ve been desperate to hike and camp for a month but the weather has been awful with the rain. Once it stopped a week ago I couldn’t wait to get out. Packed all my gear, laid my clothes out and for the past 7 days I’ve woken up everyday by my alarm to go and just couldn’t get up and go 🫤.
I post YT weekly normally and haven’t posted for 5-6 weeks. Haven’t hiked since end of November and just spending my days sleeping as zero motivation.
Really great to hear about this and at least put some understand behind how I’m feeling as constantly beating myself up letting myself down and my followers. I’ve even ignored messages and social media completely. Need to turn this all around.
I’m in Manchester UK btw. Really need to push myself and get out and hike as know going once it’ll change me and I’ll be alright again. Just hard to get started again.
Hope you manage to get out soon Kris. Maybe start with something lower effort. I do that sometimes if I don’t feel up to a big day.
@@StephenJReid Thanks for that and will do. Supposed to be out this weekend on a hike and camp with my gf. She’ll make sure we get out but hard to even get my mind into planning where to go. But as long as I get out I’m sure it’ll help. Thanks.
Hiya Stephen. I live in L/Derry, so not so far from yourself I am sure. I get up 5-6 days per week @5:30 and go to the gym and I have found that during this time I suffer much less with SAD. I believe this has an affect on my circadian rhythm and makes me less reliant on sunlight as well as my body producing additional hormones during the winter. I also find it difficult to sit down and do nothing so this time of the year, especially in N. Ireland, is just a challenge to me. You can always find something to do and there is beauty everywhere in this country no matter what the weather so I find I spend time during the week planning one or two weekend outings, a hike, drive, camp whatever but I have found this means I'm not locked down and don't suffer anywhere near as much as I used to with SAD and Cabin fever. What I am sure we both know as do people who regularly exercise, is that the exercise gives you much more energy and I believe that helps you push through the normal symptoms of SAD..... Keep up the good work and I hope someday to bump into you on the trail....
That’s commitment! I don’t sleep well and hate getting up early in general so I’ve never managed to get into an early exercise habit like that. Makes sense that it will kick start everything early each day.
Definitely important to keep moving.
Thanks for the comment!
Hi Stephen,
watching your videos mostly from South of Italy. And although one would think, perfect place to live and enjoy the sunshine, the winters get quiet wet and windy. So I would enjoy more, if i´d have a winter with proper snow, even if it would mean less daylight.
My biorhythm is already setup so it doesn´t matter if summer or winter i´m up before 7am with the same energy.
I do prefer autumn to spring seasons than summer, but yeah, I can get a bit of down feeling in winter if i can´t go out.
great video as always 🙂✌
That’s very interesting, didn’t expect that in South of Italy
I used to live in the UK, on a farm, so I remember the weeks and weeks of fog and rain and damp. (so much like home - NZ) I didn't get S.A.D so much possibly because I was working outside all day, every day. It was pretty miserable though.
Flash forward 30+ years and now I live on Crete. Winter arrived yesterday - 12 degrees and raining, so no running for me.
According to the forecast ,winter will last for a week and then it will go back to being 20 degrees and sunny. Just like last year. (This is NOT normal for Crete!)
So one way of beating S.A.D is to come to Crete in winter. If you can work remotely this is not a bad place to do it.
I think one of the best ways to defeat S.A.D, (as you probably know) if you can't get away, is attitude.
Don't look at the weather as wet and miserable, look at it as prime puddle jumping weather, and go out and jump in puddles like an 8 year old. Get your mates to go with you, and then head for the pub and laugh about all the puddles you jumped in.
The year before I left NZ I did an ultra that had the distance cut short because of really, really bad weather. i.e. on the hilltops survivability was not guaranteed. It was a pretty marginal call as to whether the race should have been run at all.
It was freezing cold, raining with gale force+ winds. The small streams that you could rock hop across were now up to my waist.
Some people had a terrible time. They complained, threatened repercussions to the race director etc.
Me, and those like me, had a great day out.
I walked up a long, steep muddy track, made it to the top only to be hit by wind strong enough to get me airborne and blow me back down to the bottom again. (It didn't. But it was a near thing)
One of my fondest memories is running with people across a windswept hilltop towards the middle of the race. We were all soaked, freezing and tired. instead of just running across and trying to get to shelter as fast as possible were were jumping in puddles and giggle like children.
It was a crazy day and we just embraced the crazy and had a fun time.
And that's one good way to beat S.A.D - embrace the crazy and just go out and have a giggle. ;-)
I like to think that emotions are something that happen to you. But you have a choice with what attitude to approach things or look at the world.
That attitude can then loop back around into the emotion you get back.
So if you see rain and take the attitude that it’s horrible, you’ll not get positive emotions back when you go out in in.
Decide to see the rain as a challenge and the emotion that comes back might well be delight.
Stephen your editing is on point! The colours so natural. Good work! Great vid.
Thanks, kept the colours simple with this, not too many tweaks. But it's my best camera I used, Sony A7siii. Amazing bit of kit, use for it for my commercial work
Your excellent reconstruction cheered me up and out of theSADness. Cheers
Haha no problem Colin, thanks!
Excellent video. Gave me a good excuse to not go out and do something on a cold winter's evening. Happy new year and get well soon Stephen.
Haha, not quite the desired outcome but glad you enjoyed it Michael. 😊
the only way i can survive the northern ireland winter is to take myself off to lanzarote every january and top up on sunlight and heat. the cold, wet, dark and miserable days of winter would finish me off otherwise. i find in the sun my mood, diet and lifestyle all improve massively. The cheap booze helps too.
How warm is it there in winter? I’ve never gone on a sun holiday, don’t like too much heat either. It did used to be prescribed by doctors as treatment for persistence sickness, so maybe something in it
This video made me subscribe. Brilliant.
100% get a SAD light (for in the morning, or dull days) and also get a dawn simulator for an alarm. I struggle when it’s dull and these make a huge difference.
Discovered I actually bought one a few years ago and forgot about it 🙈
Thanks for another brilliant video bud, SAD certainly is a major factor at this time of the year.
Thanks Stephen! You find things that help with it?
@@StephenJReid I personally don't suffer with it but my girlfriend does massively. She has lost both a sibling and a grandparent round Christmas time during her life and with the on set of winter and SAD season you can see it consuming her each year. For us we try to cold water swim and adventure. Geocaching is a good way to get out and explore.
@@stephenbailie2086 that's really tough. I've noticed it in a relative for a similar reason, Christmas always reminds them of the loss. Geocaching is fun! I keep meaning to make a video about it. Great way to get non-outdoorsy people outside
SAD aswell on top of mental health issues. Suffered for around 20 years but last 10 years not so bad thank God. Fair play for discussing the issue. Great video, love watching ❤❤
Glad to hear things have improved for you Alan. Know others who have struggled for a long time. Do you find getting outside and keeping active helps?
@@StephenJReid My first hike in over 30 years back in September gave a great boost, really opened me up and hope to get out again. My only obstacle is I've no car and depend on buses which is not pleasant.
Glad you got out Alan! Not a fan of buses either but if it was my only option I’d be on them. 🙂
Great video but really loved the outdoor poo toilet section because that is just how it is (three times experienced wildcamper/hiker emegency pooer here} when you have to go you have to go lol
😂 there ain’t no stopping that train!
A few nights previous to that we were bailing from a storm up hares gap at 11pm 😂, then you get a perfect night for a camp 🎉 . Just shows you how the mournes weather can change dramatically over a few days .
Yeah I’m VERY glad I pushed back by 24hours. All for embracing the weather but a little forecast planning can make for a much better experience!
@@StephenJReid A few hours rain in the mournes means a torrent of water 😂😂. Lesson learned to look a bit closer at the forecast . All good experience though :-)
This is exactly why I do RED JANUARY Stephen. The habit of getting out without having to think or plan it really helps lift me up during the month. It’s become my best habit especially when coupled with camping, I like to look at it like this. Make the most of the light and rest and recharge in the dark ❤such an excellent video, Thank you, BW, Sarah
Hadn’t heard of Red January, that’s a great idea!
@@StephenJReid Run Every Day…RED…absolutely brilliant. I am ON IT 🤩 gets me out even at 5am before a day shift and inbetween nights, folk think I’m mad but it’s the best, I’m buzzin
I think I’d rather boil my head than get up at 5am to go for a run! 😂
@@StephenJReid 😂😂😂😂😂 needs must! I get in from work at 20:15 and feel like fag ash mate 😂
We definitely dip out at this time of year in our neck of the woods. As soon as the dark evenings kick in it’s in our DNA, doors and curtains closed, we forget there’s life out there post 1900! I bought a SAD light years ago, great job and would highly recommend one as long as it’s put to good use as it’ll definitely help with the circadian rhythm, the trick is not to get out of the normal routine and slip into duvet mode. To be fair I’ve not used mine enough but now the days are on the turn again it’s getting easier. I dream of retiring in Scottsdale 😂
I might get a SAD light, I've been using my daylight studio light in the office which helps but all my lights at home are warm lights
Hi Stephen, SAD hits me pretty hard in New Hampshire USA. I'm not built for winter so it's rare to get out and camp in the cold months. Cheers
Yeah you’re quite far north, looks like you have a similar climate to here
Yes sir
Hi Stephen, my humble opinion is these conditions didn't start to people began staring into the black mirror every minute of the day, it's not the weather it's us!...great video mate btw
I’m sure there are elements of modern culture and habits that make it worse. Probably our increasing isolation from other people
@@StephenJReid 👍👍👍
I don't know what it is, but this winter I've had the worst SAD since 2015 (been getting this bastard condition ever since I was 17. I'm 57 this year). This video just cheered me up loads. Thanks Stephen!
😂😂😂I loved that you kicked nature. Sat at 05:30 in morning giggling at your antics.
Usually winter used to be my favorite season (people always told me that I was crazy because the cold made me so happy and I really came to life when the season started) but it's is changing more and more into a soaking wet season here in the Netherlands. This week we had the first temperatures below freezing this season 😔. That used to be by the end of october/beginning of november. I noticed that I like winter less and less. It has been raining without an end and I start really feeling down. I could do 3 hikes since the end of October 😭. More and more trails are being closed because of floodings. I really, really hope with my whole ❤ that spring comes early this year. I am done with it, also being sick for the 2nd time within a month.
I do try to fill the evenings with planning my trips for 2024 and searching for new gear that I would love to have this year. At least that brings a bit of brightness.
Interesting! That does fit with my theory that wet weather is worse for it than cold dry weather. There’s just something miserable about day after day of rain.
Hope you find a way to enjoy it
@@StephenJReid it is! I have been to Lapland and didn't mind the cold at all. But that wet cold from days of rain is so much worse.
Really enjoy the B&W and the Colorful grade
Thanks Hugh 🙂 experimenting with using B&W in my introd
Thanks Stephen, great advice and a real boost with a problem shared 🙏 I'm a keen mountain biker and luckily have a couple friends that are too and we have kitted ourselves out with some super bright bike lights and made a pact that unless weather is dangerous then we'll night ride at least once a week through the dark months and I can honestly say it's helped enormously. It's still a challenge to leave the house when it's dark, damp & cold but I/we have 'never' got back from a ride and said we wish we hadn't been out, quite the opposite, we come back with a real buzz and remembering that helps the next time.. I've even made a recent video while on a ride which gave me more to focus on. Thanks again for sharing your journey.. Happy New Year !
Definitely helps having adventure buddies to get you out the door. Positive peer pressure.
I'm the same Stephen. It's a hard rut to get out of.
I think part of it is not stopping being active in the first place. Usually I stop regularly running in October but I’ve kept at it all year and noticed that has helped a lot too
@StephenJReid nevertheless, an awesome video as usual. Never change fella 👍
What a gorgeous location! I really enjoyed the chat Stephen. Thank you. 😊
Thanks Kathyrn 🙂
Stunning video. Great discussion of a topic which could be difficult to convey, but was done in a very objective, informative and upbeat way. Well done, Sir! 🎉👍🤩
Thanks Chris!
This horrible, raining for days on end, dark winter where I have had to have the lights on during the day and watching and listening to you describing the syptoms of SAD make me think I may have it too - but not the feeling down bit.
Another well though out and executed video, laughed out losd over the leave no trace - that could easily go viral! Thank you and Happy New Year :)
Affects different people in different ways and not everyone will get the same symptoms but I think most people will be affected in some way over winter.
Published the Leave No Trace vid as a reel on IG, got over 11k views 🤣
I live in Australia and although this may sound strange,
I very much get summer SAD,
As someone who likes to be highly active in the outdoors but hates the heat, it can be an absolute misery here as temperatures reach the high 30C’s with high humidity, high risk of fires and all our famous deadly snakes like to come say hi,
So I dont think it’s all linked to sunlight, I certainly think there is an amount of not being able to do the things you really enjoy and being physically limited from your preferred baseline.
I absolutely thrive in our winters (although they arnt to far off of your summers haha)
Great little video as always :)
Interesting! This does make sense though, when we (rarely) get a heatwave I end up not sleeping for days on end and end up feeling exhausted all the time as a result.
Apparently the average winter temp in Australia is 15-26C. That’s a good summer here! 😂 we are lucky if it goes over 20C in summer
Wow! Amazing video. I 😂😢😊. Then I watched your video again on my SECOND channel because I thought it was worth TWO 👍🏻 thumbs up! Brilliant! And yes I get S.A.D. In Louisiana USA (I think it’s the ratio of sun/gloomies one is used to getting.). I also observe the lighter eyed people in my family suffer more than the dark. 🤷🏼♀️
Oh wow thanks very much! That’s really interesting actually, about usual ratios. So maybe people who live in places with highly variable climates might suffer the most.
You’re further south than Spain so I wasn’t expecting it would be a thing there. So is it really sunny all the time in summer and then cloudy all winter?
That bramble deserved all it got! Lol
Generally speaking I would normally say I actually enjoy our winters here, definitely more so that when you do get those rare heatwaves in the super and I would put down my low mood in the autumn and winter to the changes in my work that those seasons bring. Saying that, once you started listing the symptoms I started having second thoughts, though work I think is still the major reason though perhaps it's not as clear cut as I would have thought.
yeah I'm so conflicted with winter. I LOVE crisp cold calm days with the low sun. it's more beautiful than summer. and I hate heatwave nights trying to sleep. I guess that keeps you grateful though!
yeah work is a HUGE factor. I was the most miserable in winter 2022/2023 because of a bad work situation.
Thanks for sharing this video Stephen. Very informative and of course it really does help to talk about this issue. We think SAD particularly affects us outdoorsy people, less light or less good weather means less time to do the things we enjoy. You gave some good advice and of course a good dose of humour that really made us laugh particularly getting caught up with the bramble and demonstrating what to do ‘in the woods’😂. Even with a cold. looking forward to the next one.
Interesting! I wonder if it affects outdoorsy types more than non-outdoorsy types as we will experience the greatest differential in daylight
New watcher, just stumbled upon your videos, great format and fascinating content, something a bit different and certainly a stand out from the rest, I have to admit that I have never seen a re-enactment of an "unwanted delivery" this was a total stand out moment for me and had me in piss stitches and will go a long way to cheering people up with SAD, it was going along so interestingly at 60fps then boom "Dusk till dawn" happens. Binge time, Cin cin
😁 Welcome aboard Dave! 🙂
I love the winter it's my happiest time.
No people . Tick
More darkness. Tick
No overheating. Tick
No flying bugs. Tick
Peace and quiet. Tick
Cold crisp mornings. Tick
More challenging. Tick
More difficult. Tick
I am happiest in winter, really don't like the summer much.
The lack of flying bugs is very nice. Where in the world do you live?
@@StephenJReid uk
@@TacBlades interesting! Do you not find the damp weather gets you down? What’s your secret? I’m really curious now. Trying to change my attitude towards the cold and damp weather but it’s not easy!
@@StephenJReid it's just a state of mind and preference if you like camping with others and hot sun then the winter will never be great. But if you really love solitude then winter is fantastic. The wet is not a problem, but torrential for weeks is not good tho.
If your cold you can always get warm, but if it's too hot it's not easy to cool down. I sleep better in cold weather. I do enjoy all the gear you need for cold too more fun.
i get SAD in the summer, i hate heat and bright light , no energy, hate going out unless its early morning, love the cold, i can do more
Interesting! Where do you live and how hot does it get?
Essex, it can get up to 30 on a bad day but mainly it's a bearable 70-75
@@brewsterkits it almost never gets that hot here. I think the hottest we had last year was 27. It’s also windy a lot which makes it feel colder.
I do hate heatwave nights though. I can’t sleep in hot weather. Awful
same here, hot nights are awful, investing in air con this year, its a life saver
Really interesting video Stephen and I fully agree. My issue is the opposite, I’m at my best during autumn / winter. During the summer months I tend to be sluggish, more tired and generally not to social. The cold comes around Oct through to March I come to life. I cycle commute a 22 mile round trip to work which I love in the colder dark months but ‘put up with’ the rest of the time. I tend to be fitter and healthier during the dark cold months. I’m in Merseyside so only a spit away from yourself.
Interesting! Definitely bucking the trend there.
Totally Stephen, noticed that in the last few days I’ve been a bit more active wanting to go on treadmill or out for a run and now you mention it, seems to have coincided with the nice spell of weather we’ve been having here in NI 😮 been really struggling since November to get out for a run or treadmill even once a week. (I usually run 3-4 days a week)
Yup! When it rains for weeks on end I always find I go out less and less until a sunny day comes along.
Thanks Stephen for making this video. I too get hit with the SADs this time of year. I fear my backpack is gathering a small army dust bunnies under the bed. But you have reminded me to say “duck” it to the weather and just dawn a jacket and tip on. Keep up the great stuff. Oh and a happy new year, I'm looking forward to your 2024 content 😁
Start small if you have to. I find that only going out if it’s for a big hike makes it harder to get going again. Enjoy.
Happy New Year !🙂
Being on the Wet Windy West Coast of Scotland the weather is crap ice and rain. It’s no wonder I suffer from SAD but it fits in nicely with my myalgic encephalomyelitis , Pulmonary Sarcoidosis and slight OCD. I find the clocks changing in autumn it a real trigger for it and like you I just don’t want to get up out of bed in the dark ( thankfully neither do my animals). I thought about a light box but never really have time to sit beside one. The thing I do find helps is diet. I stick to an anti inflammatory diet which means no IPFs. I have also been working up to starting Cold Water Exposure which folk maintain helps too.
Anyway your videos always cheer me up 😀
Oh yikes that’s rough! Nasty combo. Are you able to get out much? I have family with ME and was always made worse being cooped up inside too much.
What’s your favourite meal these days?
It mostly cycling I do riad and gravel. I find it helps a lot I was doing loads of century rides 2022(plus’s a double century on the smart trainer) and was at my fittest. Unfortunately 2023 was a disaster as after the death of the father in naw the other half was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given 6 to 12 months then they decided to give him palatine treatment so life was up in the air. Anyway the decline in my physical health has been marked as I went from cycling 5000 miles a year to about 500. Anyway this year I am going to try and do more.
As for meals I’m pescatarian and my favourite is sheet pan salmon with sweet potatoes , broccoli and feta though it’s a toss up with that and Moroccan Prawn rice.
@@SwampyDuckRidesAgain3636 Really sorry to hear that! I hope things look better for you this year. 🙂
That food does sound delicious by the way!
true for me yes. SADD according to my Doctor. I live in Minnesota USA. I have special bulbs in my lamps at home and at work when I wasn't retired that helped. But usually just making myself get outside and do something helps a lot. Which sometimes seems to be soooo hard, especially on the days you describe. Thanks for sharing.
What’s the weather like in Minnesota over winter? Imagine it’s very cold and snowy. Or is it damp and miserable? Always curious if different weather makes a difference.
@@StephenJReidtemps are colder on average than Ireland in the winter. 32/0 and under on most winter days (November to March) to extremes of as much as -10/-23 or -15/-26 below Fahrenheit/Centigrade for several days at a time. We get an average of 47 inches of snow per year. The thing where I live is the sun does not show its face much from November to March. It is usually overcast even without it snowing. We have about 53% on average of cloudy days per year (195) and the majority of those do seem to take place in our winter time. On sunny days, it is awesome to get out but since that is not the norm forcing myself has to take place. So not working (because retired) I have no real demand to "have to" do something. So mental gymnastics are greater than when I was working, however, knowing what I know I plan things to get me out of bed, to meet a friend, etc. Like everything you said, it just seems that the lack of bright sunny days is something I know I will need to "battle" and so I do. Family and friends do notice and are/have always been a huge help once they understood😁
Yeah that sounds quite a bit colder than here. And agree about if you get used to not going out, even the sunny days sometimes don’t tempt you.
Great you have friends and family around though! Sadly not everyone has that
Yes saw you head down scooting about on your bike with the Lurgy,Sat Born2run… I go to gym and run in am when I can to get out… oh and retail therapy in the sales helps m😂!!
Haha yeah I was not feeling good on Sat, summoned willpower for filming the race and then went home and slept all day.
Retail therapy always good for a bit of dopamine. I bought that bike! 🙈
Lots of very good advice. Well done 🙂
Thanks 😁
A wonderful video Stephen that may help people that struggle with the winter months
Thanks Nigel 🙂
Where do I live ,….. hmmmm…..well that’s hard to say, some times it’s Virginia, North and south Carolina , some times Florida and some times the Bahamas. I think the amount of light you get has an effect on your mood.
So the secret is to sail south for the winter? 😂
@@StephenJReid exactly !! You need to sail south to the Mediterranean !!!
@@SVFresh2Salty I’ll start pumping up the paddleboard and grab some bamboo and a bedsheet
@@StephenJReid now that I’d like to see
Happy New year Stephen, really enjoyed the vlog. Thanks for sharing your experiences, it's hard to get back into the swing of things, I know where you are coming from. I'm looking forward to getting back out posting again soon thanks for the boost. Happy hiking.
Happy New Year! Enjoy getting back out 🙂
Exactly What I Needed Today! Thanks Stephen!
You’re very welcome. Thanks for coming along 🙂
Also in the market for a 4 Season tent this year so really interested in finding out what you think to the TN Laser Compact AS.....
Enjoying it so far. The Southern Cross
1 I was using is a more solid tent, but this has more space which suits me better with all my camera kit
Pretending it's Christmas all winter helps. Making things, feeding them to people - but then, I like cooking and baking, so there you are.
Brilliant video and brilliant timing.
I really do suffer in winter with most of the symptoms you described. Low mood, lethargy, etc.
Top advice about making the most of any good days. I'm not quite as scientifically advanced as you, but I'm constantly checking the weather on the run up to my days off lol
Any hint of sunshine and I'm up and out at sunrise to make the most of every minute.
Many many thanks for sharing this video Stephen, it has improved my mood no end
😁👍⭐☀🕶
Thank Ivan, glad it’s helped! Yeah you definitely have to be proactive in looking out for those good days. But pushing yourself out the door on the mediocre days too sometimes 🙂
@@StephenJReid I'll definitely try to push myself to get out the less good days too 🙂
Perfect description
Thanks!
Great video and message. I dig your choice with montage music. I was hoping you spelled it Dark Knights Appreciation Society. Go Batman.
Thanks Rod. Trying to be a bit more selective with my music these days and also using it a lot less than I used to.
Haha. I’m Batman!
Living in Belgium, this all sounds very familiar. I force myself to keep up my running schedule (3x per week) through any weather and even in the dark. Afterwards usually an icecold shower. Both are supposed to increase dopamine levels, and I do believe it helps. Additionally, I'm in the fortunate position that I can usually take a holiday in Dec/Jan (Christmas-NY) or in March (Easter). Fly to someplace warmer & sunnier for a week or so (basically south), it's unbelievable how much effect it has on my mental state, but unfortunately this feeling only lasts for 2-3 weeks.
Oh, I also bought a light therapy lamp this winter. It's a super bright lamp that you put right in front of your face in the morning (I always did this during breakfast). Not sure if there is any proof that it works, but I believe that there is an effect. It is like a fake sunrise for your brain while it is grey and dark outside.
You could try hibernating 😉
Thats what I do, sleep longer, get up during daylight mostly. Tend to eat more and put on a couple of kilos, but then when summer comes burn it off again cause I'm a lot more active 😁
My problem there is that I’ve been accumulating an extra kilo every year that doesn’t go away
@@StephenJReid Probiotic foods 😉
ruclips.net/video/diLP424dJH8/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/_eKywZAVwHs/видео.html
I do like a nice glass of Kifer 😁
Honestly your equipment is just so interesting…if I’d have money I’d buy all 😅 one by one.
Another great video, how did you make it fun to talk about SAD? All good advice, and that's a professional opinion. Getting out during breaks in the weather is really important. I also find indoor cycling provides both exercise and social interaction which are great for mental and physical health. PS: not sure using a tarp as a green screen worked very well :)
Thanks David! Always value your thoughts on things like this. Currently debating getting a turbo trainer for my spare bike
A turbo on its own is torture but games like Zwift create a remarkable illusion of cycling with friends
Take care
Thanks! You too
Happy New Year Stephen. Really appreciate your videos. Followed for the tech, stayed for the crackly wood burning 👍
Happy New Year Chris! Is it too late to confess I added an extra layer of crackly wood burning sound effect as my mic didn't pick up the fire as much as I wanted? 😁
Not a sad video to look on 🙂 Very well made!
Thanks! 🙂
Fantastic Video! thank you
Thanks!
Some us live in cities!
❤ Canada 🍁
Yes, for sure. S.A.D or whatever youd like to call it. The end of one cycle and the beginning of another.
I have to laugh at you getting frustrated at the brambles and yelling at them 🤣 😅 💎 Very Relateable on those tough grey, cold and wet adventures.
But much like the seasons. For a time wanting to rest and recoup.
After a few weeks of living in darkness a flip occurs and a new dawn begins. My Soul's internal fire begins to shine brighter.
If stuck indoors, I find pleasure in doing creative indoor activities such as pottery, drawing, painting, woodburning or woodcarving.
Get Creative! 🎨 ❤
As the sun begins to return in the new year I feel an extra catalyst to my being 💛⚡🌞
Getting outside on a sunny winter day after days of grey cloudy snowstorms & whistling winds. The snow sparkles, life is still & frozen. Nose running, cheeks cold but Soul ablaze with a reborn sense of adventure. ❄ 💙 🥶
Get Outdoors! 💚 🌲
there's nothing quite like that first day of sunshine after the long long weeks of grey!
Great watch as always. I really enjoy these videos you make, very informative. Ps them huel drinks are nice 👍.
Thanks Geoffrey! Yeah I’m addicted to the chocolate Huel. Much better than a McDonalds which would be my usual impulse meal.
You literally crack me up 😂😂😂😂😂if HUEL don’t sponsor you after this one I’m gonna give em what for! 😂
I’ve even made an ad for Huel! They paid me for an ad read last year 😂 I think my channel is too small for them
@@StephenJReid my husband drinks it every day, I’m on and off with it. Prefer real food but it’s good on shift when I’m too busy to look after myself properly! HUEL are missing a trick mate 🙌🏻🙏🏻
Beats the McDonald’s I’d prob get otherwise!
Love your videos
Thank you 🙂
Great video again and despite the medical disclaimer you raising the issues around SAD may just make someone else think ‘that’s how I feel maybe I should seek some help’ .
What make is the chest pack you’re using? Thanks
Thanks! The chest pack is a HELIKON Numbat. Great pack.
I have w.a.d (weather affected disorder) it happens to me randomly throughout the year... 😂 grey skies eff my head up...
I think im getting the better of it now though as i get older. I think its because i caj choose wether or not i go out i it.
A side effect of being an infantry soldier, im told.
I have never heard that one before, but I think I suffer from the same! 😅
@@bjornaronsson7596 looking out of the window in the morning, used to have my heart beating. I'd be like, " not grey, please not grey." If it's sunny, I'm usually the happiest guy in the room, but if it's grey or raining I didn't even want to leave my room. Hard to earn a living like that. Writing it out, it seems trivial... but it was, and sometimes, is still a problem. Again, thankfully, hiking and camping and getting old seems to be helping me get over it.
Onwards and upwards I guess.
@@craigelliott4338 sounds really tough. For me it affects my mood quite a lot, but it has never beens as bad as you describe.
Interesting! Do you think that’s from memories of long days of misery out tabbing in bleak locations? So you see dull weather and that feeling comes back?
Yep, never moaned about it at the time, but as soon as I got out I swore to myself I wouldn't put myself into it again, but it (wad) ended becoming a thing. I moved to Essex, and joined a rowing club. I only rowed in fair weather despite making the race team. I garnered a reputation for being soft. Didn't really speak of my thing to anyone. Last year, my friends son died bodging a tiktok challenge. Feeling like I should do something for his foundation I pledged to walk lejog. I have since been doing my best to suck it up and get back on the horse. I went back to Wales and did the horseshoe, failed the south downs way due to injury and had quite a few weekend excursions back at dartmoor. Like I say, I think I might be getting over it, I try to find the beauty in the atmosphere that grey clouds make, especially on the mountains. It can be quite epic. Anyway I'm hoping that by next summer the latest, I can finally have a crack at the big one.
I like that twig stove
😁😁😁
Corofin Co Galway Ireland
what i do is remember the summer is coming, probably, 😂 here in the north you can never tell (joke) so when your in the dark keep yer chin up and look for the sun, sometimes you can see it in someone else's face 😊✊🏻🏴
Still waiting for the summer this year! At least the days are longer 🙈
Homo sapiens was selectively bred over millions of years to hunt and gather mainly during the summer and to hunker down in winter. It is a big part of the human condition. In short, it is normal. Similarly, the food experts are saying something similar, in a way, about ultra processed food. The human gut is not adapted to it. I remember skiing in the Alps where there was talk of depression in the very dark, oppressive mountain environment.
On a wet Sunday afternoon in the winter I cook a big tasty stew or curry. Listen to music. Helps.
A great topic and that windy app sounds good .
I'm going to make a film about prevention of SAD .
Thanks for the impetus.
Great idea! Let me know when you've made it 🙂
Great video, think the proof is in the pudding, you got to wake up to what looked like a glorious morning. A reward much deserved.
Yeah I was very happy to see that morning sunshine! Wasn’t expecting it at all
Stephen, what is the brand of chest pocket you are wearing in this video? I've something similar from OMM for maps/gloves/gels etc, but wondered what you one was like.
Whats that classical song around 16 mins?
Brilliant video, I think this winter has been particularly bad because it’s been so wet. I’m trying to get out as much as possible, take my nutty Labrador with me so not alone…… yep, embrace the darkness 😂😂
Yeah the damp is the worst. Having a dog must definitely help! The closest thing I have to a pet is the neighbours cat which keeps sneaking into the house and I think it prefers the indoors 😂