Cloudy Moods
- Natalia Grynczel
- Nov 28
- 3 min read
Updated: 23 hours ago
Why fall is so depressing
There is something about November that makes everything feel slower and more depressing. Why is that? The sky hasn’t been truly blue for weeks. Days grow shorter, nights colder, and our schedules busier, but… did it all disappear just because the sky became grayer? If all of this has you feeling a little more anxious, drained, hollow or unsettled, remember that you’re
not alone. When fall begins, so does the subtle shift in our moods - a seasonal depression that lasts from October to March and makes us feel overwhelmed by everything. Suddenly everything feels heavier — mornings, conversations, even our favorite songs. So we light candles, scroll through aesthetic photos, and try to convince ourselves that it’s just “the cozy season”. We try as hard as we can to romanticize every aspect of this time to keep us from falling apart. But… is it wrong?
How weather affects our moods
Maybe we don’t realize it, but the weather plays a crucial role in our emotions. Factors like humidity, sunshine, temperature, wind, barometric pressure, precipitation and sky cover definitely change the way we feel. As the weather changes, we change, and seasonal
depression is a good example of that. However, the biggest influence on our mind and body comes from the Sun. Studies show that spending time outdoors in pleasant weather improves mental health, energy, and focus. The sunlight helps regulate the circadian rhythm, which improves sleep. Moreover, it prompts our body to produce vitamin D (which is responsible for healthy bones and muscles). As the sun fades, something in us grows quieter too.
Is it just weather?
However, what if the lack of sunlight isn’t the only reason we feel this way? It might be something deeper. Perhaps it’s because of the pace of our lives. We don’t realize this, but autumn is a season of changes. The draining feeling that piles up throughout the entire year begins to settle in because of the pressure of school, duties and a never-ending to-do list. It’s not just sadness, it’s that quiet emptiness that sneaks in when everything slows down. When days get quieter, our thoughts get louder. We finally have time to think, maybe even about things we’ve been avoiding. We start missing the version of ourselves that felt alive in the summer sun. That makes us wistful and nostalgic. We begin to feel the weight of emotions we have been ignoring. Maybe it’s not about the weather at all, but about the way we move through seasons.
Autumn as the season in-between
Autumn stands between two extremes — the vibrant chaos of summer and the frozen silence of winter. Maybe that’s why it feels confusing. We’re neither here nor there, just somewhere in-between, waiting for change. Yet there’s beauty in that pause. It’s a chance to breathe, reflect, and be present. Maybe it’s good for us to light a candle, buy those cozy socks and listen to music with a fall vibe. Maybe those small rituals are what we need at the moment.
Page design: Nadia Michalik
Bibliography
BBC Bitesize. “Does the weather affect your mood?” https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zgymp9q. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
BBC News. “We struggle with autumn blues - here's how we turned it around”https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7492e5x7jzo.amp. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Mayo Clinic Staff. “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)” https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20364651. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
KM Therapy. “The psychology of change: Why fall stirs up so many feelings.”https://www.kmatherapy.com/blog/the-psychology-of-change-why-fall-stirs-up-so-many-feelings. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Photos:
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Rebeccapaulinamodig. “Chic Autumn Aesthetic.” Pinterest, 21 Oct. 2025, pin.it/4IFgCOsAA. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
bianca. “...” Pinterest, 12 Nov. 2025, pin.it/5yq2HaQJo. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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