23.5 Degrees of Tilt

How Humans are Affected by the Change of Seasons

As Earth orbits the Sun, this fixed tilt means different hemispheres take turns tilting toward or away from the Sun. Aside from the areas nearest the equator, the rest of the earth is greatly influenced by this yearly cycle.

We know that summers bring us longer days with more hours of sunshine and heat. I did a little research regarding the effects of those longer hours on humans and wow! There is so much information out there!

Fact:

• Exposure to UV aids in the production of vitamin D (Vitamin D is involved in many bodily functions and plays a vital role in immune health and maintaining healthy bones and teeth)
• It improves mood
• And it increased energy

What I found out, and what most of us know is that there are two sides to the UV exposure coin. Not enough makes us cranky, depressed and can often lead to rickets in children. Too much exposure leads to:  

• skin cancers
• photoaging or premature skin aging
• immune suppression
• eye diseases like cataract

The dilemma here is that scientists are still looking for the sweet spot regarding sun exposure and supplementing.

Most of this information has been whispered by water coolers everywhere, but it is still somewhat of a black hole of information. I also believe that the sun is a happy place for many of us and is a miserable place for others. But look at it this way; one minimal dose of sunlight UV radiation provides the equivalent of about 20,000 IU of vitamin D2, taken as a supplement. That said,  the supplements work pretty well, but direct sun exposure is free!

On the flip side, lets look at what happens to humans when the earth’s tilt takes us away from those long hours of sunlight. (I say this as the northern hemisphere is entering into the winter months, shorter days, cold, snow, gray, ugh!)

When daylight hours shorten, especially in winter, the body’s master clock (circadian rhythm) receives less light, particularly blue wavelengths. This delays the suppression of melatonin, the sleep-regulating hormone, leading to a phase delay in your internal clock. As a result, you may feel more tired in the morning, have trouble waking up, and experience daytime fatigue.

Colder temperatures reduce outdoor activity, which can worsen mood since exercise is a natural mood booster. Cold weather can also make socializing harder, leading to isolation, which increases the risk if depression. As I am a sunshine lover, here are the cons of not having enough sun exposure:

• Vitamin D Deficiency and Bone Health leads to
• weaker bones
• reduced bone density
• osteoporosis
• rickets
• Muscle weakness from low vitamin D

Cognitive Function

Just to add to the wavering effects the shorter days have on us, the shorter days also affect our cognitive function (Who knew!).

• We witness Decreased Alertness: Shorter days often correlate with slower cognitive processing and reduced alertness. This affects productivity and overall mental clarity during winter months.

Physical Health

I think most people can attest to this:

• Different Sleep Patterns: Fewer hours of daylight can disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to sleep disturbances. People may find it harder to wake up in the morning or feel more fatigued throughout the day.
• Metabolism Changes: Cooler temperatures and shorter days can also influence our metabolism, potentially leading to weight gain if lifestyle adjustments are not made.

 We all know how the changing seasons drive migration, hibernation, and breeding cycles and all that affects human activities like hunting, fishing, and tourism. Although we feel helpless, (we can't change the tilt of the earth or the change of the season) there are a few things we can do to help make the off cycles less taxing.

• Poetry and art: Read or write poems about each season, to capture their moods and imagery; like a journal.
• Seasonal traditions: Explore cultural festivals tied to specific times of year. Many cultures have celebrations around the summer and winter solstices or maybe make your own “winter” tradition (something besides Christmas).

• Mindfulness in nature: Spend time outdoors each season to notice subtle changes — from bird songs in spring to snow patterns in winter.
• Seasonal gratitude: Keep a list of things you appreciate in each season.

Creative Projects

• Seasonal recipe book: Document dishes or treats associated with each season.
• Seasonal music playlist: Curate songs that evoke the feeling of each season.

Most of all, whether you celebrate, or hibernate by following the prompts of the seasons, be grateful; know that every day is a gift and everything you see and experience can be worthy of praise, sunshine or snow; rain or wind, be grateful.