According to the NHS, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects around 2 million people in the UK. SAD can affect both adults and children, causing depression, sleep problems, irritability, and overeating. Have you considered swimming as a tool to alleviate SAD symptoms? After reading this blog post, you may want to give swimming a try.

Out of the 10 tips from the NHS for helping remedy the effects of SAD, 6 can be achieved with a swim spa! 

1. Keep Active To Help With SAD

Just hop right in, any level of swimmer can use a swim spa! Whether it’s a doggy paddle at low level jet speed or a sprinting freestyle at the highest level jet speed, the endorphins from any body movement will really help with SAD.

2-3. Get Outside / See the Light To Help With SAD

The inside can become a dreary place with the low light of Winter. Go outside! See the clouds race across the sky while having a float. Listen to the birds sing while using the massage jets. Most importantly, let the sunshine vitamin D soak into your skin.

4. Keep Warm To Help With SAD

The NHS says that keeping warm can reduce SAD symptoms by half! 

This may seem like the opposite of going outside, but with a swim spa you can do both at the same time! Swim spas can be kept as hot as 40C so you can never excuse the weather as a reason not to jump in! 

Has anyone ever thought “I really wish I could just jump into my hot water bottle”? Well you can just about float around in one with a Hydropool Swim Spa.

5. Take Up a New Hobby To Alleviate SAD

Exercise can be hard to achieve when you’re feeling low, but with a swim spa it couldn’t be easier. If you’re new to swimming, focusing on improving stroke, breathing, and times can be a great way to keep your mind occupied in stick season (shout out Noah Kahan). With our Trainer Swim Spa Models, a pair of FORM Smart Goggles are included. These goggles track swimming metrics in real time, showing up in the lense as you swim. It automatically detects which stroke you’re using and pairs with the FORM app to show your progress with easy to understand graphs.

6. See Your Friends and Family To Alleviate SAD

Most of our swim spas can fit up to 4 adults in jetted seats, more standing in the tank area. What could be better in the Winter than spending quality time in a 38C pool? Have friends over for a chill night in or use the swim spa as a family bonding activity!

As a fellow sufferer of SAD, the four most helpful techniques I use to combat SAD  are the first four listed above. I have chronically low vitamin D so getting natural sun is so important to my Winter Wellbeing. As invigorating as the cold can be, keeping warm is essential! If not using the swim spa, a relaxing soak under the stars in our Self-Cleaning Hot Tub can do wonders for my mood. 

Exercise can be hard to achieve when you’re feeling low, but with a swim spa it couldn’t be easier. Another effective strategy for managing SAD would be to pair swimming as exercise with healthier eating, to ensure you are getting all the minerals and vitamins you need to keep your body feeling the best it can. 

Want to test a swim spa for yourself? We have a swim spa and hot tubs available to wet test at our Ashton Showroom. Book an appointment!