{"id":40505,"date":"2026-01-03T11:30:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T11:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/?p=40505"},"modified":"2026-01-03T11:35:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T11:35:21","slug":"uae-feeling-exhausted-during-winter-it-relates-more-to-human-biology-than-personal-willpower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/03\/uae-feeling-exhausted-during-winter-it-relates-more-to-human-biology-than-personal-willpower\/","title":{"rendered":"UAE: Feeling exhausted during winter? It relates more to human biology than personal willpower"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Mental health specialists told insider18 that colder winter weather often leaves people feeling sluggish or low on energy. This is not due to poor discipline or weak motivation; instead, it is largely influenced by natural biological processes.<\/p>

Alex D, an engineer and marketing executive at a Dubai-based fintech company, usually completes his workday around 6pm. However, by the time he leaves the office, darkness has already fallen. The sky is dim, indoor lighting feels harsher, and it seems as though the day has ended prematurely.<\/p>

\u201cWhile I\u2019m driving, it already feels like nighttime. By the time I get home, my body feels so exhausted that I just want to sleep, without even unwinding,\u201d Alex said. \u201cIt\u2019s odd because my working hours haven\u2019t increased and I sleep the same amount, yet my energy levels drop sharply.\u201d<\/p>

At home, the change is even more noticeable. Evenings that once felt productive now feel heavy and slow. Motivation declines, simple chores feel demanding, and preparing dinner can feel overwhelming. \u201cI used to go for short walks or stay active after work,\u201d he explained. \u201cNow I just want to lie down. It feels like my body has shut down early, even though it\u2019s not very late.\u201d<\/p>

Alex\u2019s experience is shared by many. As winter arrives and daylight hours shorten in the UAE, several residents say their evenings feel unusually exhausting.<\/p>

Sunset comes before the workday finishes, travel happens in darkness, and energy fades sooner than expected.<\/p>

Dr Shaju George, specialist psychiatrist at International Modern Hospital, explained that winter light patterns can subtly interfere with the body\u2019s internal clock.<\/p>

\u201cDuring winter in the UAE, the brain often misses strong light cues in the morning and evening,\u201d he said. \u201cWithout these signals, the circadian rhythm \u2014 the body\u2019s natural timing mechanism \u2014 gradually shifts. This changes when we feel alert and when we feel sleepy.\u201d<\/p>

He added that shorter days may cause melatonin, the hormone that signals sleep, to increase earlier than normal. \u201cBy around 8 or 9pm, the body already feels ready for rest,\u201d he said.<\/p>

\u201cMeanwhile, reduced morning light means cortisol \u2014 the hormone responsible for wakefulness \u2014 doesn\u2019t rise effectively, leaving people feeling drained throughout the day.\u201d<\/p>

The impact goes beyond sleep timing. Research shows that limited daylight can reduce sleep quality, causing more frequent awakenings and less restorative deep sleep.<\/p>

\u201cEven when people don\u2019t feel overtly sleepy, their focus, reaction speed and mental clarity can be affected the following day,\u201d Dr Shaju said. \u201cThat sense of mental fog people talk about is genuine.\u201d<\/p>

Evening routines can unintentionally worsen the problem. Bright indoor lighting and screens from phones or televisions emit blue light that interferes with melatonin release at inappropriate times. \u201cThis delays sleep while exhaustion remains,\u201d he said. \u201cIt becomes a cycle of poor rest and low mood.\u201d<\/p>

For many, the effects feel emotional as well as physical. Dr Sneha John, psychologist at Medcare Kamali Clinic, said seasonal changes often bring subtle shifts.<\/p>

\u201cMany individuals notice reduced energy or motivation as seasons transition. This isn\u2019t always a clinical issue, and in most cases it can be improved with structure, light exposure and small lifestyle changes.\u201d<\/p>

She added that seasonal mood changes are often overlooked in sunny regions like the UAE. \u201cPeople don\u2019t expect this here. But indoor lifestyles, long work hours and limited sunlight can still affect mood and energy. Experiencing this doesn\u2019t mean someone is exaggerating; it\u2019s a normal human reaction.\u201d<\/p>

From a psychiatric standpoint, Dr Nada Omer, consultant psychiatrist at Burjeel Hospital, said reduced daylight leads to measurable changes in brain chemistry.<\/p>

\u201cWhen sunlight decreases, serotonin \u2014 which supports mood \u2014 can drop, while melatonin production increases. This influences energy, drive and emotional stability. It occurs even in bright climates because timing and duration of light exposure are just as important as brightness,\u201d she said.<\/p>

She also noted that increased fatigue, cravings and emotional sensitivity are commonly observed during winter. However, she stressed the importance of distinguishing normal seasonal shifts from more serious concerns.<\/p>

\u201cIf low mood lasts most of the day, affects work or relationships, or continues beyond the season, professional help should be sought,\u201d she said.<\/p>

Experts agree that for most people, small adjustments can help significantly. Getting natural sunlight within 30 minutes of waking, stepping outdoors during lunch breaks, lowering indoor lighting after sunset and reducing screen brightness in the evening can all make a meaningful difference.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Experts also recommend maintaining consistent daily routines during winter months to help stabilise the body\u2019s internal clock. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, even on weekends, can reinforce healthy sleep\u2013wake patterns. Regular meal timings and scheduled physical activity further support circadian rhythm balance. Light exercise, such as stretching or walking, can boost energy levels without causing overstimulation late in the day. Mental health professionals note that predictability in daily habits sends reassuring signals to the brain, helping it adjust more smoothly to seasonal changes in light and temperature.<\/p>

Nutrition can also play a role in managing winter-related fatigue. Dietitians advise focusing on balanced meals that include complex carbohydrates, lean proteins and healthy fats to sustain energy throughout the day. Vitamin D, often linked to sunlight exposure, may drop during winter months, particularly for people who spend most of their time indoors. While supplements should only be taken under medical guidance, consuming vitamin D\u2013rich foods and spending brief periods outdoors can help. Staying hydrated is equally important, as dehydration can quietly worsen feelings of tiredness and poor concentration.<\/p>

Mental health professionals emphasise the importance of self-compassion during seasonal transitions. Comparing winter productivity to summer energy levels can lead to unnecessary self-criticism. Instead, experts encourage adjusting expectations and allowing for slower evenings without guilt. Engaging in calming activities, such as reading, listening to music or light stretching, can support emotional balance. Social connection also matters, as isolation can amplify low mood during darker months. By recognising winter fatigue as a biological response rather than a personal failure, individuals can adopt healthier coping strategies and protect their overall wellbeing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Winter fatigue in the UAE often stems from biological changes caused by shorter daylight hours, which disrupt sleep hormones and body rhythms, rather than laziness or lack of motivation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[22],"post_template":[],"top_category":[],"class_list":["post-40505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uae","tag-weather","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40505"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40505\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40514,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40505\/revisions\/40514"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40505"},{"taxonomy":"post_template","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_template?post=40505"},{"taxonomy":"top_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insider18.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/top_category?post=40505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}