This Is Your Brain On Warm Weather

There’s just something about summer. People’s attitudes seem noticeably different with the sunshine. And that isn’t a coincidence: Research shows warmer weather can have a small influence, positively and even occasionally negatively, on your mindset.  We’ve rounded up just a few ways the toastier temperatures of summer can affect your mood. Check them out below: Spending time outdoors when it’s sunny is linked with a mood boost... The gold standard on this subject is a 2004 University of Michigan study that found people who spent at least 30 minutes outside in pleasant weather — either by taking a trip to warmer climates in the winter months or by taking advantage of a newly warm spring day in the park — had happier moods. And in corroborating research, a 2014 UM study found that being outside could lead to a better mindset and reduced stress. But if you’re still stuck in the tundra, don’t worry too much. Kelly Rohan, a professor of psychiatric science at the University of Vermont, points out that weather pales in comparison to other stress mitigators, such as the lessening of relationship or work pressures. While warmer weather doesn’t make a sizable difference in outlook, research supports the idea that nice weather has a positive psychological impact on the overall population, she told HuffPost. ...But don’t expect the same effect on the dog days of August. The weather-mood connection is a positiv...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news