With shorter days and winter on the horizon, many teams are busy planning Christmas dos, organising Secret Santa, and looking forward to a well-earned break. For some employees, though, this season can be especially tough.
Around 1 in 20 people in the UK are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression triggered by seasonal changes that can lower mood, sap energy, and make it harder to concentrate.
This blog explains what SAD is, how it can influence attendance, performance and team morale, and the practical steps employers can take to create a supportive, productive environment through the colder months.
So to SAD: Winter Is Coming.
My Mum loves her garden. For an active 85-year-old widow, it’s her joy, pride, sanctuary and sustenance. She weeds and wanders, plants and prunes, soaking up the warm summer sunshine in rural Norfolk.
But as the days grow shorter and the skies greyer, she, along with millions of other people across the UK experience a noticeable dip in outlook, mood and energy.
As she packs up her greenhouse and retreats into her home, it isn’t just a case of the “winter blues” as she pines for her petunias, for her, it’s Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, most commonly emerging in autumn and winter.
The causes are well known with reduced exposure to sunlight impacting on our vitamin D production and reducing levels of serotonin (which stabilises our moods) and melatonin (which regulates resting patterns). There may also be a genetic predisposition.
The impact of seasonal affective disorder on UK businesses
SAD generally goes undiagnosed or ignored, put down by many to just feeling low during the damp, cold autumnal months. Our healthcare and mental health services are struggling as it is, so SAD perhaps doesn’t justify so much attention as other conditions considered more serious.
But consider that:
- Up to 3% of the UK population suffers from SAD, equating to over 2 million people.
- Mental health problems, including SAD, cost UK employers £45 billion per year in lost productivity, sickness absence, and staff turnover
What are the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder?
SAD can subtly erode the critical qualities that make leaders effective. The relevant symptoms seasonal affective disorder include:
- Persistent low mood and irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loss of interest in everyday activities
- Fatigue and excessive sleep
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
What is the impact of SAD on people in leadership positions?
The impact on leadership performance can be considerable:
- Lowered ambition and competitive drive as their energy levels drop and self-belief becomes depleted.
- Reduced team, stakeholder and peer engagement as they become more socially distant or even disengaged, with a potential impact on trust, team work and collaboration.
- Sinking team momentum as leaders struggle to display the belief and enthusiasm necessary to energise and sustain their teams.
- Goal progress dips as fluctuating energy levels lead to uneven performance, missed deadlines, indecisive leadership.
- Uneven emotional resilience as Leaders struggle to regulate mood, leading to irritability, withdrawal, or emotional reactivity.
So for employers, recognising and addressing SAD is not just a wellbeing issue—it’s a leadership, performance and strategic imperative.
How businesses can help manage SAD
Apart from working remotely from the Maldives or Necker Island for the winter, which is beyond the goodwill or budgets of most businesses, there are several effective ways to manage SAD:
- Light therapy: many SAD sufferers use light boxes that mimic natural sunlight and can help regulate mood hormones.
- Vitamin D supplements: Especially important during darker months, and there is a debate about adding this vitamin to British diets.
- Regular exercise: boosts endorphins and improves sleep.
- Healthy diet: Reducing sugar and increasing omega-3 intake may also support mental health.
Get extra help and support for your team
For leaders, SAD can be a significant handicap when it arrives on top of the intense demands of a challenging role, industry or marketplace context, and Act 5 executive coaching offers a proactive, personalised approach, where our executive coaches help you to:
- Identify seasonal patterns and help develop proactive coping strategies
- Build emotional resilience and fine tune stress management skills
- Maintain leadership presence during low engagement periods.
- Optimise performance during low-energy periods
- And use cognitive behavioural methods to reframe negative thought patterns and build agility.
Executive coaching doesn’t diagnose or treat SAD, but can help leaders understand the impact of the changing seasons, address the causes and stay effective and productive, while navigating the damp, dark times ahead.
Act 5 coaching supports leaders handling tough times. Please get in touch for a confidential discussion to share your story and to explore how we can help. Alternatively, read more about who we are.
