Winter is perceived as a relief. The air is getting softer. Moving around the city is no longer a struggle against the heat. There is a sense of space for walks, meetings and plans with chauffeur service in Dubai. But it is during this period that many suddenly begin to feel an inner rush. Time seems to shrink. The pressure is rising. And the reason here is rarely related to the number of cases. It is more often hidden in physiology, climate, and seasonal changes in habits.
Daylight Hours And A Shift In Internal Rhythms
The reduction of daylight hours is imperceptible. It doesn’t catch the eye, but it gradually shifts the circadian rhythm and changes the usual sleep schedule. Even in pleasant weather, sunlight exposure becomes less stable. The body begins to redistribute resources. Serotonin and melatonin play a key role in this system. The first one maintains a sense of stability and tone. The second one is responsible for sleep and recovery.
When the balance between them is disrupted, familiar symptoms appear. Fatigue lasts longer than usual. Lethargy is felt even after rest. Irritability occurs faster and for no apparent reason. Sometimes social withdrawal is enabled, and there is a desire for silence and distance. In some people, these manifestations form a pattern of seasonal affective disorder, exacerbating depressive symptoms. It’s not a matter of character. These are biology, light, and regime.
The paradox is that winter seems energetic. I want more meetings. More activity. But it is at this moment that lack of sleep accumulates, and the subjective sense of time begins to “shrink”.
Cold Season Physiology And Hidden Stress
Even a moderate decrease in temperature triggers a stress response. The sympathetic nervous system is activated. Adrenaline and noradrenaline are released into the bloodstream. Vasoconstriction occurs, and the tone of blood vessels changes. Against this background, systolic blood pressure can increase by about 5-10 mmHg in the colder months.
A behavioral factor is added to the physiology. In winter, people become more collected and demanding of themselves. The graphs are compacting. There are more and more activities. There is less time to recover. At the same time, the risk of vitamin D deficiency increases, because there is often less real sunlight than it seems. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to mood swings and decreased energy. There is a feeling that the usual tasks are harder.
The immune system is also working hard. Respiratory infections and flu-like symptoms are more common. Illnesses are getting out of schedule. After that, there is a desire to catch up. And anxiety begins to fuel the rush.
Temperature Contrasts And Density Of Winter Habits
The winter period lasts from about December to mid-March. At this time, the temperature ranges from 12°C to 25°C, and the sea temperature reaches 23°C. About 42 mm of precipitation is recorded in February. The weather changes, and the body adapts again.
Another stressor remains the sharp contrast between the rooms and the street. Sometimes there is a scenario of 20°C indoors → 48°C outside. Such fluctuations increase subjective discomfort and increase the vulnerability of the respiratory tract. A person gets tired faster, even if the day looks calm.
At the same time, the number of outdoor activities increases dramatically in winter. There are jogging, cycling, hiking, walking and social events. It is useful for mental health, sleep, and emotional regulation. But if the load grows faster than the recovery, the voltage is fixed. Even pleasant plans start to feel like a race.
In summer, the body remembers the other extreme. Temperatures regularly exceed 40°C, and peaks reach 50-51°C. Humidity on the coast can rise up to 85%. After such an experience, winter is perceived as a limited “lifetime.” That is why there is a desire to do everything. And it often creates internal pressure, even when the season looks the most comfortable outwardly.
I am an award-winning freelance writer specializing in financial topics. With more than a decade of work experience, I have published in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and numerous industry journals, including the Harvard Business Review.