The Winter Blues

It’s December and the time of year when we start thinking of the holidays, gift giving and festivities.  It’s supposed to be a happy, joyful, cheerful time, yet there are some of us who get SAD.  SAD is Seasonal Affective Disorder - a form of depression that affects us this time of year brought on by the shortened days and less sunlight.  Let’s get something straight - this is something different than the average “winter blues”. When a person struggles with SAD, they feel several symptoms from low mood, change in appetite, loss of interest to being unmotivated and disengaged.

 So what can help prevent or even better the effects? Of course, seek medical advice above all because the severity of your symptoms may vary from mild to extreme.  One thing’s for sure, nobody can argue that getting out in natures elements for just an hour a day, even sans sun is helpful. A balanced diet can never cause harm and light therapy (aka phototherapy).

 Now, here’s where I’m going with this! As opposed to working from home, working in a shared workspace has a different vibe. There’s a sense of community and belonging that you just can’t get from your kitchen table.  Working at home may seem appealing at first but the reality is it’s lonely and allows for little or no social interaction.  Simple habits such as getting up and dressed gives purpose to your day and provides many benefits.  

 At HUDDLE we offer gym access to our members, which will in turn help with SAD. Exercise and mood are directly linked. It’s been said that exercise can be as effective as medicine in some cases. When you exercise your body releases a rush of endorphins. All of our private offices and boardrooms have windows or skylights to let the sun shine in and our members lounge is large and airy – filled with plants that give you all the benefits of biophilia.

 At HUDDLE we allow for your business to thrive and you have the chance to collaborate with remote businesses, freelancers, entrepreneurs and other like minded people. Working among a wide variety of skills and attributes allows for a feeling of belonging and motivation. Our space is fresh, bright and allows for all your innovative ideas to flow. Another perk worth mentioning is our friendly and knowledgeable office manager.

 We’ve all had our share of anxiety and depression over the past 20 months with the Pandemic. All stigma’s aside- we were a lot happier post pandemic! SAD affects people of all ages and backgrounds. If we can provide you with a work space that will promote health, wellbeing and the sense of a stress free environment, then we’ve done our job here at HUDDLE. 

Written by guest blogger Barb Lorefice