Springtime Fatigue: Why You May Be Feeling More Tired as Winter Comes to an End

The little-understood phenomenon of springtime fatigue and how you can overcome it

Spring is a time when nature is shaking loose the icy fingers of winter — the days are a little longer and the flowers a little brighter. I couldn’t understand then, why I had been feeling more tired than ever. I lost motivation to do one of my favorite activities — running, and I wasn’t enjoying watching my favorite professional sports in tennis and football. It felt like I was in the early phase of a cold or flu infection but it never progressed beyond that. It turns out I might have been suffering from a phenomenon some people experience around this time of year — springtime fatigue. Springtime fatigue is marked by a persistent lack of energy or restful sleep, and even reduced mental capacity in some people. There is very little research on this phenomenon because it’s not really an illness or medical condition. However, there is enough information out there to shed some light on why some people feel this way and some tips on what can be done about it.

What causes springtime fatigue

The main culprit thought to be behind springtime fatigue is an imbalance in hormone levels. Hormones play many key roles in our bodies including regulating sleep, mood, and energy levels. Sunlight can affect the types and levels of hormones our bodies produce. The theory behind why the increased daylight hours can trigger springtime fatigue is underpinned by this link between daylight and hormone levels. The theory is the sudden increase in the hormone serotonin puts stress on the body as it adjusts from the low levels experienced during wintertime. The science to back this theory up is thin on the ground though — this is a theory inferred from our knowledge on how the endocrine system works under normal circumstances.

Another factor that can trigger or worsen springtime fatigue is adjusting to daylight savings time. In the northern hemisphere, our clocks jump forward an hour to signal the end of winter and the start of spring. The consequence is that we lose an hour of sleep that night. This doesn’t affect most people’s sleep for more than a day or so but it can apparently be a trigger for springtime fatigue.

There are also some theories that allergies can trigger springtime fatigue by hindering good quality sleep. The lack of evidence is frustrating again but it seems plausible. Springtime fatigue is woefully understudied partly because it slips between the gaps for medical professionals and most researchers in this field focus on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is associated with autumn and wintertime.

What you can do to overcome springtime fatigue

For me, it’s been about two weeks since I started suffering from this fatigue and it is slowly going away. Apparently, springtime fatigue typically goes away after the body has adjusted to the new conditions, which is about 2–4 weeks. There are things that can be done to help overcome the fatigue quicker though. The most common advice is to get more natural sunlight exposure. This can be by opening up the curtains a bit earlier in the morning or doing some outdoor exercise. The idea here is to increase levels of the alertness hormones and decrease the sleep hormones. You should also avoid drinking massive amounts of coffee to stay alert. I did this and it only made me more tired the following day. Caffeine and restful sleep do not go together. You also risk making things worse by triggering a caffeine crash, particularly for those not used to drinking caffeine. Last but not least, eating well is thought to ease the symptoms of springtime fatigue. That means no surgery snacks, or heavy fast foods — instead, more fruits and veggies. Staying hydrated can also boost energy levels so it’s never a bad idea to drink more water.

Conclusions

Springtime fatigue is a phenomenon affecting a significant amount of people as we transition from winter to summertime. Springtime fatigue is marked by low energy levels, poor quality sleep, and a generally bad mood. There is frustratingly little scientific evidence for the causes of springtime fatigue. The prevailing theories involve hormone imbalances as we move from low daylight hours in the winter to increased levels in the summer. Allergies and the daylight savings time transition may play a role too. Springtime fatigue does typically go away after the body has had a few weeks to adjust to the new environmental conditions. The recovery can be sped up by spending more time outdoors, eating healthier, and drinking more water.