Let it rain 🌧

☁️ The Great British Weather and Your Mental Health: Why a Little Rain Might Be Just What You Need

We love a moan about the weather here in the UK.

Too cold. Too wet. Too grey.

Then boom 💥heatwave! And suddenly it’s too hot, too humid, too much.

But it’s not just small talk, the ever-changing British weather actually has a big impact on our mental wellbeing. Let’s explore how… and why doing a little rain dance in a heatwave might be exactly what your nervous system needs.

☀️ Lack of Vitamin D: A Year-Round Struggle

Most of us in the UK are deficient in vitamin D for a good chunk of the year. That’s a problem, because vitamin D is crucial for:

Regulating mood - It plays a role in serotonin production (your happy hormone)

Managing stress - Deficiency is linked to anxiety and low resilience

Reducing inflammation - Which is often tied to low mood and fatigue

So if you feel a bit “meh” through the gloomy seasons, it’s not all in your head - it’s likely in your hormones and nervous system too!

🥵 Heatwaves & Humidity: Why They Hit Hard in the UK

You’d think we’d be happy when the sun finally arrives… but British heatwaves aren’t always a mood-booster. Here's why:

No air con - Most homes in the UK aren’t built for the heat, making it near impossible to sleep or cool down properly. In fact newer homes are built to keep the heat in!

High humidity - Stops your body cooling through sweat, leaving you sluggish, cranky, and anxious.

Sleep deprivation - Poor sleep affects mood, focus, and emotional regulation.

Dehydration & heat stress - These trigger increased cortisol (the stress hormone), which can spiral into tension, irritability, and burnout.

When the body’s under physical strain, it directly impacts emotional wellbeing. You’re not weak - your nervous system is just working overtime.

🌧️ Why Rain Feels Like a Mental Reset

Then, just when you can’t take it anymore… it rains.

And suddenly, the world feels lighter. But why?

Rain reduces humidity, helping your body regulate temperature again

The smell of rain (petrichor) has calming, nostalgic effects

Negative ions released during storms are believed to boost serotonin

White noise from rain soothes the nervous system and helps with sleep

Symbolic reset - Rain feels like a “cleansing” of the environment, giving your brain permission to slow down and breathe

This is why a little splash in the puddles, a deep breath of fresh post-storm air, or even a full-on rain dance can feel so emotionally freeing. Your nervous system needs that release.

🧡 In Summary: It’s Not Just Weather — It’s Wellbeing

You’re not being dramatic if the weather impacts your mood - you’re being human.

Vitamin D affects your emotional regulation

Heat and humidity place pressure on your nervous system

And yes, rain really can make you feel better (especially if you dance in it)

So next time a heatwave rolls in and the rain finally comes, don’t just watch from the window. Throw your arms up, let yourself exhale, and embrace the emotional release.

Dance it out.

Move your body.

Reset your mind.

💃 Decades Reloaded isn’t just about dancing to nostalgia - it’s about understanding what movement does for your mind.

Join our community of mental health-first instructors and participants as we keep it real, connected, and emotionally freeing… whatever the weather!

👉 Want to know how we train our instructors in mental health-first approaches to movement?

Explore our instructor training here or follow us on Instagram for more everyday mental health wisdom.

www.decadesreloadedfitness.com/instructor-training

@decadesreloaded