Welcome back to our blog! We are continuing our exploration of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) today by focusing on how SAD may affect you or your coworkers in the workplace. We’re all seeing and feeling the seasons change, and while that brings joy to some, for others, it begins to make a significant impact on daily functioning. The workplace is no exception when it comes to those who suffer with SAD.
Keep reading to take a look at how SAD can affect your performance and productivity in the workplace, as well as to learn some practical strategies to help you cope and thrive.
Recognizing SAD Symptoms in the Workplace
If you read back to our first blog of the month, we focused on the signs and symptoms of SAD, but we didn’t explore how those may present in different environments. The common symptoms of SAD include; significant fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and depressed mood. At work, you may notice you’re having a noticeably harder time making decisions or maintaining your focus on a task, meeting, or project. You might also find yourself snapping at customers or coworkers without being able to identify the reason. And you could feel hopeless, like you’re not making a difference or you’re not doing a good job. All of these symptoms are crucial to notice early and to seek help before they result in a larger problem for you, such as disciplinary action at work.
Feeling the Winter Slump: How Does SAD Affect Motivation and Energy?
Our days are growing shorter, whether we like it or not. In turn, this means less sunlight for us, which can result in decreased motivation and energy, even if you’re sleeping well. You might start to notice simple things, such as daily routines, now feel more difficult. It’s possible you may even start to avoid doing certain tasks because they feel too difficult and like they’ll take too long to complete. This is in no way a reflection of your abilities, but rather a reflection of how the change of the seasons is affecting you and your mental health. Remember, SAD is quite common for those of us that live in northern states due to the lack of sunlight.
How to Manage Work Related Stressors
Stress can be a significant factor in the symptoms of SAD and how it interferes in your life. No matter how much we can love our jobs, work stressors are a normal part of adult life and learning how to manage those stressors can go a long way in helping you overcome your SAD symptoms. A highly underutilized strategy in the workplace is seeking support from mentors, supervisors, or colleagues. Just speaking to someone else about how you’re feeling, or the tasks you’re struggling with can alleviate a lot of stress. Learning to set more realistic goals for yourself is also helpful. If you find yourself reflecting on your day and thinking you didn’t get as much done as you would have liked to, ask yourself if you’re setting your goals too high. Lastly, learning practical and realistic time management strategies can help you feel your workload is more manageable and less overwhelming. Developing and using a toolkit of strategies like these will go a long way in alleviating workplace stress.
Open Communication with Leaders
Having an environment at work that is supportive of everyone’s mental health and aims for open communication is ideal. However, we understand this isn’t always the case. If you find yourself suffering with SAD, talk with your leadership about accommodations that can be made to help you succeed through the winter months. Brainstorming together will help you both be on the same page and develop creative solutions. If you don’t feel comfortable talking with your leadership or coworkers, consider reaching out for professional help.
Conclusion
Winter months can bring joy, family time, and fun snowy activities, but it can also bring unwanted symptoms that interfere in your daily life. If you are finding yourself affected at work, please acknowledge the signs, seek out some type of support, and reach out for helpful strategies to make your workplace successful for you again. We want to see everyone thrive at work through the winter and are here to help if you need us.