Why do you feel more tired and sleepy in winter, and how to fix it

If you feel more sluggish, sleepy, or unmotivated once winter sets in, you are not imagining it. The shorter days, cold weather, and lack of sunlight genuinely affect your energy. According to a peer-reviewed study published in BMC Public Health , reduced sunlight exposure disrupts the circadian rhythm, the internal body clock that controls when you sleep and wake. Less light also increases melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel drowsy, while lowering alertness during the day. Together, these seasonal changes can leave you feeling drained and sleepy. The good news is that small daily adjustments to light, diet, and routine can help restore your energy and beat winter fatigue. Sunlight plays a key role in regulating your sleep-wake cycle. When daylight decreases in winter, your b