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How seasons can affect your mood and productivity
In the Netherlands we live in a society where we are expected to perform well all year round. But what effect do the seasons have on our mood and productivity? Do they affect your performance and how you interact with colleagues?
Spring
After a dark, wet, cold winter, spring has finally sprung. The beginning of a new cycle for many people. You start dreaming about vacations again and exercising to get that summer body back. The sun is out, the days are getting longer, and everyone is enjoying every minute of daylight. Because you are more exposed to the sun, you get more vitamin D and you are more productive at work. You experience a higher energy level and therefore perform tasks better. Spring and sunlight also have a positive effect on your mood.
In addition to advantages, there are also a few disadvantages to the beautiful weather. According to studies, we actually remember less during spring than during fall. In this case, we are only referring to the working memory.
For industries such as fashion or hospitality it is an especially stressful period. They have to prepare for the summer (high) season. Everything must be ready on time in order to perform well.
Summer
Do you remember when you were young? Summer was the best time of year. You didn’t have to think about school anymore and had more time to make plans with friends. You would expect that summer would only have positive effects on our moods. Nothing is further from the truth. Now that you are an adult it feels different because you have to work. You're stuck in the office, daydreaming about the cafés you could have visited or the wonderful day at the beach you could be having Summer is often a time when you start doubting about your job. The pressure of "having to" enjoy oneself and not being able to do so can negatively affect your mood
In addition, many colleagues go on vacation in the summer, which in turn creates more work for other employees. You end up with a lot on your plate and have to perform tasks that you know nothing about or manage other people’s clients.
Fall
The rainiest days of the year. You might often feel down and sad. That is also logical because you take in less sunlight and vitamin D than in the summer. Fortunately, we all go through this phase together and because of that you will feel empathetic towards your colleagues.
Although you would think that rain only brings bad things, it can actually have a positive effect on your work. Of course, it is more difficult to get out of bed in the morning, but it is often easier to concentrate and be productive during the day. You don’t have to think about all the fun things that you could be doing outside instead of working – the weather wouldn’t be good enough anyway.
Fall is the season where you get back into the flow after the calmer summer period. Everyone is back from vacation, recharged, and ready to get things done.
Winter
Winter is often cold and gray in the Netherlands. We all wait for the holidays when we can spend time with our family and friends. Many people suffer from ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ (SAD) in the winter, a mood disorder that can cause depression, sleep problems, depleted energy, lack of concentration, and so on. This disorder can show up when the days are short and dark which can cause you to have a shortage of Vitamin D. Going outside as often as possible is a good way to avoid seasonal depression.
Starting in January time seems to speed up. The new year starts and most companies set their yearly goals. New colleagues might be hired or the annual budget could be expanded. It is a great opportunity to also set goals for yourself. What do you want to accomplish this year? Do you want to learn new skills or expand your expertise? What are your New Year’s resolutions?
In every job you experience shifts throughout the year. Depending on the industry and position some seasons can be more stressful than others. For this reason, it is important to listen to your own body. What do you feel? Is your body giving any signals? Remember that these feelings often go away again when a new season dawns.