With summer officially over and the signs of autumn creeping in, many people may be suffering from the shift into chillier weather.

But while you may assume that feeling cold all the time is just a seasonal downside, there may be other reasons at play and – thankfully – there are also things you can do to help yourself.

Why Does Autumn Affect My Mood?

Despite the aesthetic thrill of autumn, with all its colourful leaves and cosy clothes, many people struggle to lift their mood once summer is over.

During the colder months, you will naturally be exposed to less sunlight and as a result your brain produces more melatonin, aka the sleep hormone, as Holland and Barrett explains.

As the human brain is governed by a light-sensitive circadian rhythm, you may find you feel more alert when it’s light and sleepier when it’s dark.

Our ancestors would have generally wound down for the winter, knowing there was only so much they could do when it was cold and dark, but in the modern age – with all its electric lighting and central heating – business continues as normal.

However, the lack of exposure to light and subsequent melatonin production is ‘still making you sleepy as it did our ancestors’.

Why Do I Feel Cold All the Time?

One explanation is the obvious drop in temperature outside.

In the UK, this can sit anywhere from five to 15 degrees centigrade, meaning you might need to remember to layer up to make sure you are in appropriate clothing.

It may not just be the physical cold weather that’s affecting you.

Research has shown that men prefer a slightly cooler room temperature of 22 degrees centigrade, while women tend to enjoy a warmer 25 degrees centigrade.

Holland and Barrett also says you may feel the cold more if you have a lower BMI and body fat, as ‘visceral fat provides a layer of insulation which keeps you warmer’.

Another reason you feel cold all the time could be because you are suffering with a common condition that normally impacts women more than men.

Raynaud’s phenomenon, or Raynaud’s disease, is a condition where the extremities suffer from reduced blood flow.

Those who suffer from this will find their toes and fingers affected with numbness, tingling, pain or even discolouration.

What Helps with Feeling Cold?

According to Holland and Barrett, a lack of quality sleep can leave you feeling cold, so it could be as simple as getting a good night’s kip.

“Sleep helps to regulate body temperature – and skimping on quality sleep can make you feel colder,” their website says.

“Our core body temperature drops slightly during the evening in preparation for sleep, so if you hold off on going to bed, you might feel a chill too, but this is normal.”

“It is helpful to have the bedroom a degree or so cooler than the rest of your house to encourage the physiological sleep initiation process, but remember you have got to be comfortable so there is a lot of personal preference here.”

If you feel you’ve not had a good night’s sleep, make sure you eat a balanced diet and enough food, and also hydrate and exercise.