When you’re feeling a little meh, heading out for a run or weights session is usually enough to shift your mood, so why does Netflix suddenly seem more appealing once the days begin to get shorter?
‘Humans have evolved to thrive in an environment abundant in sunlight. But without optimal daily exposure to daylight, our 24-hour biological (circadian) clock can go out of sync with the external 24-hour day, and trigger seasonal affective disorder (SAD),’ says Dr Vikki Revell, senior lecturer in translational sleep and circadian physiology at the University of Surrey. ‘Without adequate light exposure, we often lose our sunny disposition, struggling with poor sleep, mood, energy and concentration.’
The good news
