Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder

Folks associate SADS or seasonal affective disorder with the cold and dreary winter, but I’m convinced I struggle the most from this during the summer. As the heat increases, my desire to leave the house decreases and I begin to feel miserable. I hate being hot and that makes me want to move less. As today marks the fourth or fifth day of triple digit temperatures, I realized that this has corresponded with me disengaging from my usual activities.

For the first time since December, I haven’t tracked my calories daily. I stopped over the weekend, and while I’m still eating relatively healthy, I’m not tracking them like I should which will only result in me gaining weight. I also haven’t worked out for the first time in over a week. The toasty humid garage is not inviting, and I’m still dealing with foot problems following my one and only kung fu class. ☹️

Of course, not working out and not going to kung fu, has only led to some negative messaging in my head, which in return makes me feel even worse. I’ve struggled big-time with my mental health this week, but thankfully, I realized it enough to just stop and let myself off the hook a bit. So, what if I don’t go to kung fu? Missing a week of workouts isn’t going to hurt anything, in fact, it might help this stupid foot heal up a bit more. Maybe I just need a break to reset, and maybe its best I take it when its absolutely miserable outside.

So, what have I done? Well, I started watching The Stand, the 1994 mini-series for the first time in a couple of decades. I started it on a whim after an urge to watch something 90s Stephen King, and I found myself really enjoying it. I watched it several times as a kid, and I really didn’t think I’d ever watch it again, but it’s been exactly what I’ve needed. Something familiar, and entertaining.

When I started The Stand, I realized that my search for a new fiction book had come to an end. I’ve been wanting to dip my toe into more fantasy, but I just haven’t found the right book or series, when I remembered The Dark Tower. I’m a huge fan of King and Westerns, but my dislike of fantasy always turned me off from the series. Now, it’s time to see if The Dark Tower is something I want to explore, so I started reading The Gunslinger and I’m enjoying it.

I’m not going to rush myself to get back on track. I think I need a few more days to just exist without the pressures of cutting calories, working out, meeting people for dinner, reducing my soda intake, job hunting, and what not. I just need a little break to deal with all the regular crap life throws at me.