‘Mother Nature thinks people should shut down’: why we’re so unmotivated in winter

‘When you’re getting less daylight in the winter months, that affects your serotonin levels, which then causes you to have a lower mood,’ says Dr Jessica Jackson. Composite: The Guardian/Getty Images

One dark and dreary February, I was bemoaning my lack of motivation. My therapist said this was perfectly normal.

“I just want to stay inside under a blanket in the winter,” she said. It didn’t bother her because she knew that, come spring, she would feel more motivated. This was actually quite a productive insight for me, so maybe she wasn’t giving her winter abilities enough credit.