I don't know if in my old age I am developing SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), but for the last few days I have not felt at my best. I have felt listless, lacking in motivation, very tired, and unable to concentrate very well. Lateral Flow Tests indicate that I don't seem to have developed COVID-19 (I am triple jabbed thanks to my age and decrepitude, so I test myself every couple of days ... just in case) and all I can put it down to is the lack of natural sunlight and the general greyness of each day sapping my natural energy levels.
I have not been idle over the past few days, but what I have achieved (which includes doing some figure painting of figures for my FUNNLY LITTLE WARS/PORTABLE WARGAME ARMY OF BURGUNDY and finishing the final draft of a talk about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) has taken me twice or three times as long as it normally should. Once or twice (or even more often if the truth be told!) I have been put in mind of a joke I recently saw on Facebook:
Question: 'How do you fall asleep in an armchair during the daytime?'
Answer: 'Be retired ... and sit in an armchair!'
One thing that is really bugging me at present is my inability to make comments on other people's blogs or to leave replies to comments on my blog using my iPad. Since the latest Apple OS update, I seem to have lost this function, and despite attempts to cure the problem, it persists. I can read blogs and write blog posts ... but do little else. As far as I can see, all the settings remain the same, and other than discovering that other people have experienced similar problems, I cannot find a solution.
Roll on Christmas and the New Year when I hope that things will get better ... assuming of course that they aren't cancelled due to COVID-19!
I love the joke Bob that rings so true now that I'm 'retired'!!!
ReplyDeleteAs for SAD, I'm not sure, but I love to sit by the patio doors and watch the World go by in the garden (which I'm doing now). Even though it's not sunny, the daylight as it were does cheer me up no end, plus all the wild life etc.
Also if I haven't been out for a walk or bike ride for a few days, I get a tad fed up. IIRC there is a thing called 'Nature Deficit' and as a species, we need exposure to Nature and the outdoors. certainly once I'm out on the bike, or walk or even pottering about in the garden, the fresh air and change of scenery really give my mood a huge boost for the better.
Steve J.,
DeleteIt was a joke that appealed to me because - like all good humour - it has a basis in fact!
Years ago I had a bad case of Myalgic Encephalitis (what they now call Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) after catching a virus. Part of my treatment was to sit in sunlight … and it helped. Yesterday I spent some time in our conservatory, and certainly felt the better for it. Likewise, a bit of exercise helps, even though I’ve been coming back a falling asleep in my armchair almost as soon as I sit down … hence my remembering the joke!
I’m off fora short walk later today, and besides giving me a bit of an appetite for my lunch, I hope that it will liven me up a bit.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Lack of light has always affected me, but for some years I've read and painted by a Lumie light: I find it works very well indeed, and as a bonus, avoids the problems you can get with figures painted under artificial light. https://www.lumie.com/products/desklamp-sad-light
ReplyDeleteIan Drury,
DeleteFunnily enough, I was finding that I felt better when I was painting … and it may well be down to the fact that I use a natural daylight bulb in my painting lamp. I had not made the connection until you mentioned your Lumie light, which - as far as I know - has a similar effect.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob. Well I am glad I am not alone !!!!! I have found for some years now that a lack of sun during our very dull winter months makes me very tired especially in the afternoon. I assumed it was old age creeping up but SAD sounds more interesting and acceptable. Ian is right about the lamp, I have one too and it does work and makes a bit of painting a double benefit. That said I also like watching the wildlife in the garden like Steve....before dozing off of course !!!!! Regards
ReplyDeleteTony Adams,
DeleteThere are a lot of people who suffer from SAD, and the further away from the Equator you live, the more likely you are to suffer.
Using a daylight lamp helps with one’s health and one’s painting … and I also find that my eyes don’t get tired as quickly when I use one.
The wildlife in our garden consists mainly of pigeons, loads of sparrows, robins, and tits, and a family of grey squirrels. We get a very occasional visit from a sparrow hawk … but they appear so quickly that the first you usually see of them is when they have made their kill.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Re: not being able to reply with your Ipad - have you tried using a different browser? I have 3 I use on my laptop. Each serves its own purpose. Firefox for my regular browsing, Edge for reading PDFs and accessing my Scribd.com account and Chrome for when I want access to my bookmarks from my phone. I'm thinking your Ipad uses the Apple Safari browser, maybe that is the problem? If possible I'd suggest giving Firefox a shot. It's secure and will actively work to protect your privacy and data.
ReplyDeleteMr. Pavone,
DeleteThanks to an email from someone who has found a solution to this problem, I’m now able to write comments on other people’s blog and to reply to comments on mine! Apparently I had to do the following:
Safari -> Settings -> Privacy -> uncheck "Prevent cross-site tracking"
All the best,
Bob
Nice! It's the little victories that help us through. Hope you feel better soon.
DeleteMr. Pavone,
DeleteThe solution was so simple …
I’m feeling bit better this evening, and I hope to have a good night’s sleep and feel even better tomorrow. I need to, as I’ve been told that we are going to do some Christmas shopping.
All the best,
Bob
"has taken me twice or three times as long as it normally should"
ReplyDeleteWe all lose our mojo at some time for various reasons and don't put yourself under pressure. Celebrate and enjoy what you achieve and do something else more gratifying as the mood takes you. Pleasure and contentment are the key aspects of our hobby.
Paulee B.,
DeleteThanks for the good advice. I am doing what you suggest, but I do find it difficult to be mentally and physically inactive.
All the best,
Bob
It sounds like a time for films: Zulu, Where Eagle's Dare, A Bridge Too Far - whatever floats your boat.
DeleteSometimes it is just good to watch and indulge.
Paulee B,
DeleteWhat an excellent idea! I have ZULU on my iPad, and I’ll watch it later.
All the best,
Bob
I would also recommend a walk to lift your spirits, especially when you don't feel like one.
DeletePaulee B,
DeleteI did go for a short walk ... and fell asleep as soon as I got back! When I woke up, I was feeling somewhat better, so your advice worked!
All the best,
Bob
I will boldly suggest two things one can do to alleviate tiredness, which may or may not be SAD.
ReplyDeleteFirst. Vitamin D. Sunlight helps to make this, but if no sun then not so much. Calcichews is what I take, but IIRC one can buy just the Vitamin D in nasal form to avoid the unneeded calcium.
Second. Vitamin B12 comes as B complex tablets. I get a cheap bottle from the pharmacy. Illness an lower B12 and I found this really helped me cope with the tiredness from rheumatoid arthritis; a chronic illness, and chronic illnesses tend to deplete B12.
I'm only a retired nurse, and this information is worth exactly what you paid for it.
Ashley,
DeleteThanks for the suggestions. I do take some supplements, but not the ones you suggest. I’ll see if I can get hold of some when I go shopping tomorrow. I’m willing to try anything that might help!
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteI suspect that it is SAD.
When I was working I always thought that SAD was ----well sad. I never had time to worry about such things, too busy rushing to and fro.
However since I have retired to Spain I find that I am very aware of grey skies, particularly when we visit family in the UK.
Get more involved with your various projects, you won't have time to worry about whether it is sunny or not. Not much alternative in the UK, you are unlikely to see much of the sun for the next few months.
Thistlebarrow,
DeleteWe have been living with grey skies for what seems like months … and the cold seems to have been particularly penetrating. Sue and I hope to get away somewhere warm (and sunny) in early January in the hope that we can recharge our somewhat depleted batteries. Whether or not we make it depends upon the rate at which the current Omicron variant spreads, and whether it will stop us undertaking overseas travel.
All the best,
Bob
BOB,
ReplyDeleteI think it is rather normal in retirement to feel somewhat listless...now and then. Keeping the mind active is important and we shouldn't dwell too much on making long term plans- just do what you can each day and chip away at it. Stay well and safe there. Cheers. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteI've had similar episodes of SAD since I retired, but this one seems to have been more persistent than before. It is possibly due to a bit of 'COVID fatigue' (i.e. feeling ground down by the restrictions, having to wear a mask, constantly being aware of the potential risks of infection etc.) as much as the persistent grey skies. However, I am taking things easy, not doing anything too taxing, and with luck it will pass sooner rather than later. The shortest day is in about a week's time, and after than I hope that I will begin to feel better.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
I have had SAD for years, but for some bizarre reason completely forgot about it since I retired. I've had all the symptoms again recently - listless, tired, stuffing carbs etc. But I've started remembering to turn on my light box and forcing myself to go for walks in the morning and it seems to be improving again.
ReplyDeleteMartin Rapier,
DeleteI certainly had SAD when I was working, but just got on with it as best I could. I think that I am having a worse than normal episode this year for a variety of reasons, one of which I defined in my reply to Kev Robertson as 'COVID fatigue'. I am finding that a bit of exercise helps, along with eating healthy food and trying to get some exposure to sunlight ... or the best substitute that I can find. No doubt I will begin to feel better as the days begin to lengthen again, and that this episode will eventually pass into memory.
All the best,
Bob
My wife suffered very badly from SAD for years but now gets significant relief by using a daylight lamp.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, I haven't plucked up the courage to borrow it for painting!
Ronnie
Ronniec (Ronnie),
DeleteI’m pleased to read that your wife gets some relief from her daylight lamp. SAD can be very debilitating,
I think that your decision not to ask to borrow the lamp for painting is a sensible one!
All the best,
Bob