Tackling SAD with Social Wellbeing

As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, many remote workers find themselves grappling with the winter blues, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The isolation that can come with working from home (according to this project) can exacerbate these feelings, making it crucial to find ways to combat the effects of SAD.

Co-working

For remote workers in Canada, the good news is that many provinces boast a thriving ecosystem of third spaces and co-working options. We featured a number of our favourite Toronto-based coffee and co-working spots in a previous blog, so let’s explore a little further…

With a healthy spread of locations across Canada and North America, WeWork spaces offer remote workers both permanent and membership-based co-working options. Whether you need a virtual office or simply a couple of days a week to bounce ideas over a coffee in their shared spaces, there’s a solution for the coming winter months and beyond.

A thriving creative community exists at cSpace in Calgary; a modern and inspiring location for entrepreneurs to collaborate with all the amenities you could need for a productive working week. With access 8am-8pm, plus an on-site cafe, you don’t even need to head out in the brisk temperatures to catch up with your colleagues or clients over breakfast or lunch.

Sprout Spotlight: L’Atelier Coworking

This Vancouver location is a women-owned coworking space, starting at just $35 per day to hot desk. Book in with them for a free tour.

Virtual Coffee

Schedule regular virtual catch-ups with colleagues or fellow remote workers. These chats can help combat isolation and maintain team bonds, especially if you’re used to getting together in the office regularly and take a break over the winter. It’s a great way to bounce ideas around for a project, but they don’t necessarily need to revolve around work.

As an employer, could you utilise a virtual gift card to encourage your team to get outside and grab a local coffee, then join a scheduled chat?

Winter-themed Activities

Organize group activities like ice skating, snowshoeing, or winter walks. Fresh air and exercise can combat winter blues while fostering social connections.

With social media, there’s ample opportunity to find local groups in your area even if you’re not in the big city. Check out Facebook groups, Instagram channels and LinkedIn Events to see if there are any activities happening near you. MeetUp is a great platform to find local activities or online groups.

Sprout Spotlight: High Park Ski Club

This club is located in Toronto and they offer a membership every year, helping those without cars get out of the city for ski/snowboard sessions, with a coach full of like-minded people.

If you’d prefer to stay indoors or you’re somewhere a little more remote, plan activities like holiday parties, winter trivia nights, or even virtual cooking classes featuring seasonal recipes with friends or colleagues. Start a virtual or in-person book club or movie night, providing common topics for discussion and shared experiences on a regular basis.

Staying Health-focused

Stay hydrated. It's easy to forget to drink enough water in colder months, so keep a water bottle nearby and set reminders if necessary.

The same goes for eating healthily. Although the holidays bring with them an abundance of tasty food, instead of getting swept up in advent chocolate and eggnog, make sure to not overindulge regularly if you’re sat in front of your screen. Something that can combat this is to maintain an exercise routine, even if it means adapting to indoor activities. Regular physical activity boosts mood and energy levels, plus it’s a good opportunity to make it a social outing.

Light therapy

Getting outside when the sun is up is always a good idea, even if we have less hours of daylight at this time of year. In addition, you could try a SAD lamp - a desk light that mimics the white light of natural sunlight - on a morning to boost your mood. Using it for 20-30 minutes can help regulate your circadian rhythm and improve your serotonin levels.

By combining strategies for social connection with these general wellbeing tips, you can create a holistic approach to thriving during this time of year.

Whether you're a remote worker, a hybrid employee, or part of a distributed team, discovering the best ways to keep your spirits up might just be the key to a more productive and enjoyable winter work season.