Don’t Let Winter Trick You

By Dr. Jeff Gale, DPT

Wintertime sends a signal to the body that it should spend more time resting and eating. The days have less sunlight, which affects the circadian rhythm and creates a desire to spend more time sleeping. As the colder weather sets in, we are instinctually prompted to eat more food in order to create a larger reserve of energy, since freezing temperatures stop food from growing and from being readily available.

But we live in St. George! For us, those signals that evolved from long ago are inaccurate. Food can now be shipped across the world. Fresh fruits and vegetables from Chile and Brazil come to us from a land enjoying long days and sunshine. There is no scarcity of food for us, even though our gardens will try to tell us otherwise.

Winter in this beautiful area is a fabulous time to be outside. Yes, it might be cold and uncomfortable early in the morning or late in the evening, but from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the sun is shining and warm, and it calls for us to go outside. This is a prime time for hiking, biking, rock climbing, pickleball, and other sports.

During the summer months in southern Utah, we frequently end up living in a more winter-like state, spending more time indoors relaxing during the heat of the day. We do this even though our body is pushing us to go outside and enjoy the sunlight. This causes us to sometimes go a little bit stir crazy during the summer, and many folks find outlets for this energy by getting up early to be active or waiting to do more until after sundown. We can make similar but opposite adjustments in the winter.

We need to flip the switch in our brains from rest to run. With a little bit of effort and planning, we can use the warm window in the middle of the day to get in plenty of activity and help our brains recalibrate to an active mentality while still celebrating the fun and family that comes with the holidays.

Many people who work during the day struggle to find a time to be active in winter, since working hours tend to correlate closely with daylight hours. We can combat this by taking a walk during the lunch hour, going outside just after dark to hike, or going for a bike ride while it is still warm.

We live in one of the greatest outdoor activity locations in the world! Don’t let winter trick you into not enjoying it. Throw a sweatshirt on, and enjoy the stars while it is only 6:30 in the evening and fifty degrees outside!

About the Author

Dr. Jeff Gale

Dr. Gale is a physical therapist at Anodyne Pain and Wellness in St. George, Utah. His focus is orthopedics, pain management, sports medicine, balance, chronic injury, and chronic pain. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Gale or any of the providers at Anodyne Pain and Wellness, call 435-773-7790. For more information, visit their website at anodynepain.com.