As the leaves get golden and daylight hours shrink, many of us feel the impact of seasonal changes on our sleep, mood, and productivity. Fall and winter present unique challenges, particularly for remote workers. For this reason, it’s important for managers to support your team for their well-being and to keep sustainable productivity.
Common Hurdles During the Seasonal Change
It’s not magic to know what’s going wrong during these months. Before discussing strategies to support your team, let’s explore some common hurdles they may face during this seasonal transition.
Decreased Daylight: Shorter days can lead to reduced exposure to natural light, which may affect mood and energy levels, increasing the risk of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Let’s be honest: if the sun isn’t out to play, who can blame us for wanting to hibernate like a bear? The lack of sunlight is directly related to vitamin D-deficiency. More on this later.
Colder Weather: The drop in temperature can discourage outdoor activity, making it easy to stay indoors and potentially fall into a sedentary routine. Who wouldn’t choose a cozy blanket and a hot chocolate over the frosty outdoors? It’s a tough choice between fresh air or Netflix and chill. Aha.
Disrupted Sleep Patterns: but cold doesn’t bring only pumpkin latte. It can mess your sleep. One minute you’re dreaming of tropical beaches, and the next, you’re jolted awake by a sudden chill. It’s like your body is saying, “Wake up! It’s too cold for comfort, what’s next, hypothermia?”.
The Vitamin D-ilemma
Now, let’s talk about a little thing called vitamin D—the sunshine vitamin. The lack of sunlight during these gloomy months is directly related to decreasing levels of vitamin D in our bodies. It’s like your body is throwing a pity party and has decided that the guest of honor is none other than a deficiency. D-amn. Ok maybe I should stop with the vitamin jokes, it’s D-moralizing.
When the sun decides to take a long vacation (Sun happens to love flying to the other hemisphere in winter), we get less exposure to UV rays, which are essential for our skin to produce vitamin D. This can leave us feeling like a cat that’s been denied its 17-hour nap:
- sluggish
- moody
- downright grumpy
- all of the above
You might find yourself fantasizing about warm, sunlit beaches while staring at your computer screen, longing for that feeling of warmth that can only come from sunlight. D-motivating.
This impacts first and foremost remote workers, who spent most of the time inside, without being exposed to sunlight during a lovely 2-hour commute. However, in some areas like in Hamburg, the sun sometimes goes up at around 9:30, so even if you were commuting at 8:30 you’d be still in darkness.
Strategies for Supporting Your Team
As an engineering manager, creating an environment that prioritizes wellbeing while maintaining high productivity is crucial. Here are some quick tips to help your team navigate these challenges:
Foster Open Communication About Mental Health
Creating a culture where mental health is openly discussed and prioritized is essential. Encourage your team to share their feelings and experiences, whether they’re dealing with SAD or simply feeling the weight of the season. Remind them that seeking help is a strength, and there are resources available if they need extra support.
Encourage Sunshine-breaks
The meme is funny but it’s actually true. We need the sun. So encourage team members to schedule regular breaks throughout their day. Whether it’s a walk in the sun during lunch or coming out to the balcony or backyard, these breaks can help recharge their solar-mental batteries. Remind your team that prioritizing personal time is not just okay; it’s necessary for maintaining long-term productivity.
Promote Physical Activity
Encouraging regular physical activity is vital during these colder months. Promote outdoor activities, even brief ones like walking meetings or team exercises outside. Fresh air and movement not only improve mood but also boost energy levels. Remind your team of the benefits of staying active, as even a short walk can provide a refreshing break from screens.
Offer the Tools for Healthness
Consider providing resources such as sunrise alarm clocks or light therapy boxes to help combat the effects of reduced natural light. Another good idea would be to ask your team if they want to do a consultation with a doctor to evaluate their vitamin D levels. In case they need to supplement it, provide these for free, since they’re rather cheap and they make a big impact on well-being.
Conclusion
As the seasons change, it can be tough to keep up that motivation. By spotting the common hurdles and creating an environment where people feel supported and can talk openly, you can help your team thrive. See the change of seasons as a chance to refresh your wellness routines and keep the momentum going.
About the opening photo
This beautiful lighthouse and environment is the Leuchtturm Wittenbergen, Hamburg, whose construction started in 1899 and is nowadays a protected monument as one of the oldest lighthouses.
