Is the start of summer the happiest time of the year?

The winter solstice is referred to as the shortest day of the year, based on the number of daylight hours. In December, we sometimes hear about the Christmas blues and in January we talk about Blue Monday or the saddest day of the year. So does that mean the opposite is true when we usher in summer six months later?

Charles Kanhai is a Mobile Clinician with Southern Health Sante Sud. He says this time of year can absolutely have the opposite impact on our mood. Summer officially arrived Tuesday at 11:24 pm. Kanhai says this time of year there is more sunlight, which means more of your off-work hours are still bright. And, if those battling mood disorders or depression are encouraged to use light therapy, then why wouldn't all the natural sunlight this time of year be just as effective?

"I think in general when you wake up and the sun is shining and when you come home and the sun is shining, it just makes you feel better in general," suggests Kanhai. "Instead of being in a dark space."

On the flipside, he says when, for six months you wake up in the dark and go to bed in the dark, that has a negative effect on the body.

But having said that, Kanhai says some peoples' circadian rhythm is thrown off this time of year. The circadian rhythm is an approximately 24 hour cycle of the physiological processes in living beings. When a person wakes up on time, to sunlight, everything can be just fine. But if that same person accidentally sleeps in, then gets up in a rush while the sun is already up, this can confuse and irritate them. In addition to that, those who wake up as the sun is rising can also become irritated come nightfall. This could be because our circadian rhythm is out of balance.

"Those body rhythms are twenty-four hours," reminds Kanhai. "And we've got six months or so where we are spending time in the winter and our body gets accustomed to that, all of a sudden there's a drastic change and that certainly does have an effect on your mood."

Many people would consider Christmas to be a very happy time of year. But for some, it is a sad time where they miss the opportunity of spending Christmas with a lost loved one. In the same way, some might assume summer is a very happy time of year, with all the sunlight and warmer weather. But that too isn't always the case. For those in a funk this time of year, Kanhai reminds us that this time of year there are many free outdoor options this time of year, such as hitting a park or going for a walk.

"It has been proven that just walking puts you in a better space," offers Kanhai.

He notes when your body is exercising, your mind is too. And with all the Vitamin D available from the sun this time of year, Kanhai says the more Vitamin D he absorbs, the more super human he feels.

"Most vitamins are essential, but that natural vitamin that comes, it's absolutely crucial," he says.

So, is the start of summer actually the happiest time of the year? Kanhai jokes that birthdays are probably the happiest day of the year for most people. But he says with our winters being so long, take make time to enjoy summer.