It’s 5pm and Pitch Black: How to Survive SAD Girl Season Without Crying Into a Bread Bowl
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Daylight savings. That magical time of year when 5PM feels like midnight, your motivation taps out by 2pm, and your personality is 80% fleece.
If you’ve been feeling more tired than usual, less motivated, and generally blah, you’re not broken, dramatic, or lazy. You might just be in SAD girl season. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is very real, and it hits different when the sun clocks out before you do.
But don’t worry. I’m not here to tell you to just “get outside and journal.”
I mean, I might say that eventually, but first, let’s rant.
The Truth About SAD Season
SAD is basically your body’s way of saying, “Hey! I miss the sun and I’d like my serotonin back, please.”
It’s not just winter blues, it’s science. Less light = brain fog, low energy, mood dips, and a deep urge to live in a hoodie.
And if you thought you could out-run it with pumpkin spice and candles? Think again, boo. But we can outsmart it.
So here are a few practical ways to keep your glow when the world goes dark. And they pass the vibe check.
1. Chase the Sun (Even If You Can’t Find It)
Daylight is basically nature’s vitamin, and when it disappears, so can your serotonin.
Make it a habit to get a little sunlight first thing in the morning, even if it’s just opening your blinds and pretending you're a plant.
And if it’s cloudy 24/7 where you live? A light therapy lamp might just change your life. Think: indoor sunshine that helps reset your brain's happy chemicals.
2. Move Your Body... Lightly
I'm not talking bootcamp energy here. Just gentle movement to get things flowing.
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A 10-minute walk with your favorite playlist
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Stretching while your tea steeps
- Dance to that one Beyoncé song you still know all the words to.
Tiny bursts of movement = big boosts in mood. Endorphins are free and legally required this season.
3. Comfort Food Is Part of the Plan
Yes, you can eat the soup and be emotionally stable.
Now is the time for warm bowls, root veggies, spicy teas, and cozy carbs. Your body’s adjusting to the cold and needs that grounding energy.
Also, don’t forget to drink water. I know it’s cold. I know iced coffee doesn’t count. Do it anyway.
4. Self-Care Is the Assignment
This is where we thrive.
Now is the time to romanticize your evening routine like your life depends on it.
✔️ A slow, steamy shower
✔️ A body butter that smells like a “luxury candle you can’t afford”
✔️ A new cozy robe
✔️ Your favorite playlist
And please, don’t underestimate the power of staying in and doing absolutely nothing but romanticizing your skincare routine. Cozy is a coping mechanism now. Make it your ritual. Make it yours.
5. Don’t Ghost Your Friends
One of the biggest traps of SAD season is isolation. But staying connected — even just sending memes back and forth or FaceTiming in your bonnet — can make all the difference.
Set up a girls night. Or a group chat vent sesh. Just stay in touch with your people.
6. Your Glow Might Need a Boost
Let’s talk vitamins, specifically vitamin D. When the sun checks out early, your body’s natural production takes a hit, which can tank your mood and energy.
A good supplement (and maybe some magnesium too) can help keep things steady.
Of course, always check in with your doctor first... but don’t sleep on this one.
In Conclusion: You’re Still That Girl (Just in Layers)
Feeling low energy or moody this season doesn’t make you weak. It means your body’s doing its best with fewer resources (sunlight, serotonin, sanity).
- Give yourself grace.
- Make rest part of the plan.
- Take your glow seriously.
- Add joy where you can.
Some days are for glowing.
Some days are for surviving.
Both are valid.
You don’t need to be a productivity machine. You just need to take care of you, from the inside out.
What’s Your Cozy Go-To?
Leave a comment with your favorite winter self-care ritual... or send this post to your bestie and make a SAD Girl Szn Survival Pact.
Sending light...even if the sun forgot to show up.