How To Stay Healthy In Seattle Weather

Last Updated on November 13, 2021 by Estrella

If you move to Seattle in the summer, you will fall in love with the area. The weather is comfortable. The sun shines everyday. However, if you move here at the beginning of autumn or winter, that’s a different story. Many people have a hard time adjusting to the overcast sky. They may feel less energy or depressed. If you are experiencing this, this article will offer tips on how to stay healthy in Seattle weather.

Ways to deal with overcast sky in Seattle

Especially for those who come from sunny climate, Seattle’s overcast sky in the fall and winter can make you feel low in energy. One of the fastest ways to deal with this is to buy special lights that simulate sunlight. Some people call it fake sunlight. The light needs to be 10,000 lux to be effective. You can do some research on these lamps. Search for simulated sunlight lamps or SAD lighting–referring to season affect.

Simulated sunlight lamps helps with overcast sky

Even if a lamp seems bright enough for you, check to make sure it has 10,000 lux for our purpose. The Mayo Clinic wrote about light therapy in this article. One company that makes these lights is Verilux. It even produces alarm clocks that simulates gradual sunrise. Choose whichever size fits your purpose. They are portable and weigh very little, so you can just buy one and use them at home or take them with you to the office.

Vitamin D also helps with winter blues

Another way to effectively deal with this lack of sunlight is Vitamin D. Check with your doctor on how much would be optimal for you. Some people find that just this alone helps to take care of winter blues.

Staying healthy in Seattle’s cold weather

What you used to take as a child

One healthcare practitioner says he takes cod oil in the winter months. He looks 30 years younger than his age, so there could be something to this. Many people do not like the lingering taste of fish oil, so they get the capsule, especially the one with lemon flavor. Do some research on the best fish oil for you. Cleanliness of the water can make a difference on the quality of the fish oil.

Inside air quality

This next one is probably the least known. But it will help keep you healthy. It’s the drains in our homes. Kitchen sink, bathroom sink, bathtub. Think about this. Drains are always wet. And warm. It’s a happy home for bacteria. The air quality in our home is compromised when the drains are not clean. So what can we do? Simple. Here is the formula.

Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda in the drain. Add 2-3 cups of white vinegar. Let it sit for 20 minutes or so. While you are waiting, boil a pot of water. Pour it down the drain. Keep running hot water down the drain to thoroughly rinse everything.

For toilets, lift the toilet tank in the back, and add 2-3 cups of white vinegar. Let it sit for about 20 minutes. Longer if you want. Flush as usual. You can use the baking soda to scrub the toilet and make it shine.

Especially if you live in condos or apartments, where you have shared drains, doing this will maintain good air quality in your home. If you’ve never done this procedure before, you might do it once a week for a few weeks, then once a month. Actually, this is a good practice all year long, not just during the cold season.

There you have it. How to stay healthy in Seattle cold weather. Getting simulated sunlight, Vitamin D, fish oil, and doing your drains.

If you find this article helpful, here is one on A Busy Social Life with Little English in Seattle.

Estrella Chan coaches immigrants and international professionals in English fluency, interview skills, and public speaking.    To schedule a session with her, please email estrellachan@gmail.com