It's Not the Winter Hibernation

. . . but the Autumn Lethargy that leads to my annual weight gain (for the past few years, at least). It's harder to be active in winter, what with the measly hours of sunlight and unpleasant weather, but that almost motivates me more. I get cabin fever, and there's something particularly satisfying about bundling up and heading outside when logic says it's better to stay inside, a manly sense of spitting in nature's face and saying, "do your worst, you can't stop me." But the creeping drudgery of autumn seems too subtle for me to fight. I look forward all summer to the cooler weather, and at first the greyness is a happy relief. And when I can motivate to get outside I enjoy myself immensely. But getting motivated is always a much more consistent problem August through October than any other time of year. The days gradually get shorter and I feel constantly more fatigued. My head is stuffy from allergies and who-knows-what. I can't get enough sleep to feel rested no matter how many hours I slumber and my hatred for morning grows. If I can get started, I enjoy being active, but my thoughts are dominated by dreams of laziness.

This year started a bit early when my sprained ankle put me out of commission for a couple of weeks. I made a hesitant comeback, but it's been sporadic ever since. When I do get active, I lack my usual intensity. All in all, I'm feeling very flabby right now and generally out of shape. There's no spring in my step and I'm getting sick of always feeling weary. I hope I can get out of this funk soon.