As season changes, New Orleans loses 2 hours of sunlight
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The days are getting shorter in New Orleans.
The big picture: Parts of the northern U.S. are losing more than three hours of daylight between June 20 (the summer solstice) and Sept. 22 (the fall equinox), per NOAA's handy Solar Calculator.
- New Orleans is going from 14.1 hours of daylight to 12.1 hours.
How it works: In the Northern Hemisphere, northern latitudes lose more daylight in the fall and winter compared to areas closer to the equator as the Sun's path through the sky shifts southward.
Threat level: As the days get shorter, you could start feeling the winter blues — or worse.
- Although feeling some sadness during the darker months is normal, the American Psychiatric Association says 5% of U.S. adults deal with something more serious: seasonal affective disorder or seasonal depression.
- A reduction in light exposure can change the balance of brain chemicals like serotonin (which can affect mood) and melatonin (important for sleep), and disrupt the body's circadian rhythm.
- You could sleep more, feel fatigued and/or feel depressed.
What to do: APA president Petros Levounis recommends getting a diagnosis from a doctor for SAD "because there may be something else that's going on" that would require different treatment.
Other suggestions include:
- Waking up and going to bed around the same time — even on weekends.
- Going for walks in nature, especially if you commute in the dark.
- Houseplants can boost your mood too.
Read more: Mental health advice that's not "exercise"